African Voices set to Shine at the 12th SOVAS Awards
Written By: Mosimiloluwa Kupoluyi
In a few hours, the nominees for the 12th SOVAS Voice Arts Awards will find out how much street cred they’ve got and what names make it to the award plaque.
Led by Dwayne Johnson, Matthew McConaughey, Maya Hawke, Auli‘i Cravalho, and Martin Sheen, the Voice Arts Awards, now in its thirteenth year, will recognize excellence across more than diverse categories, including animation, film narration, audiobooks, audio description, video games, political advertising, podcasts, and spoken word.
Out of more than 150 nomination slots, African talents, who showed up strong across multiple categories aside their specified zones, will once again prove that the continent’s voiceover industry is stepping confidently onto the global stage; continually announcing the power of African stories and its ingenuity.
The Society of Voice Arts and Sciences (SOVAS) is the leading body that celebrates excellence in voice performance. The platform honours voice actors, narrators, casting directors, producers, and creative visionaries.
This year’s ceremony will take place on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at the iconic Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. Moreover, legendary Barbadian-British voice actor, Redd Pepper, was honoured with the 2026 Backstage Vanguard Award during the That’s Voiceover! Career Expo from January 9–11.
This year’s African nominees came in hot across animation, commercials, and casting in the following categories:
Outstanding Animation Character – Film or TV – Best African Voiceover
- Simisola Gbadamosi, Iwaju
- Jennifer Eniye Kanari, Explore Our 2025 Impact Report – The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet
- Jennifer Eniye Kanari, Path of Exile: Risu’s Rescue
Outstanding Commercial – Radio or Web – Best African Voiceover
- Oluwaseyi Ajagbe, Action Against Hunger Ad
- Olalekan Akinleye, West Africa Economic Summit 2025 Commercial
- Eniola Keshinro, Showmax – Bring Your Own Internet
- Eniola Keshinro, Visa – Globetrotter
- Tolulope Kolade, Airtel 5G
Outstanding Commercial – TV or Streaming – Best African Voiceover
- Eric Ekwueme, AXA Mansard Builders Liability Cover – Smile
- Eric Ekwueme, Posh Pidgin – MTN – The Voice Note
- Eniola Keshinro, DSTV Africa Month
- Sanjo Ogunseye, Rosetta Stone 15″ Commercial – There’s a Word for That – Turf War
- Lucy Wache, Bolt Commercial
Outstanding Narration – TV or Film – Best African Voiceover
- Eric Ekwueme, Hello Neighbour – Episode 3 – Unnecessary NEPA Bills
- Eric Ekwueme, Seplat – Transforming Lives Through Energy
- Eniola Keshinro, Showmax Online FAQs
- Eniola Keshinro, The Annual Report 2024 of the African Development Bank
- Tolulope Kolade, Greater Things
Outstanding Spoken Word or Storytelling – Best African Performance
- Afoma Ezeokoye, Lagos Through Your Bedroom Window
- Esther Momah, Esther Momah
- Stephanie Ugbeye, Dream In Code
Outstanding Casting – TV Commercial – Best Casting Director
- Stephanie Ugbeye, The Rise of Appbility
For more information or to check out the full list of nominees, visit the official SOVAS website www.sovas.org
A huge congratulations to all the trailblazing nominees and prospective winners. We wish you all the best!
For updates, support links, and more stories about African voiceover, follow @voiceverseng across all social platforms.
