The Africa Movie Academy Awards which is popularly known as AMAA is an award scheme presented annually to recognize excellence among professionals working in, or non-African professionals who have contributed to, the African film industry. It was founded by Peace Anyiam-Osigwe and is run through the Africa Film Academy. The awards are intended to honour and promote excellence in the African film industry and to bring art and culture to the continent of Africa. Many media people, celebrities, politicians, journalists, actresses, and actors from around the globe attend the award presentation. Most people agree that the AMA Awards are the most prestigious and significant cinema event in Africa.

On May 30, 2005, the inaugural Africa Movie Academy Awards took place in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. With the exception of the 2008 AMAA Awards, which were relocated to Abuja, FCT due to security concerns, all other subsequent African Academy Awards before 2012 took place at the same location. The awards event took place at the Eko Hotels & Suites in Lagos State's Victoria Island in 2012. While the 2015 ceremony was held outside of Nigeria for the first time, the 9th and 10th editions of AMAA saw the organization return to Yenagoa. The Africa Movie Academy Awards, which honour excellence in cinematic achievements, have 28 categories as of 2017.