Adedamola Adeyemi stole the spotlight at the 2025 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), winning Best Costume Design for his vibrant and culturally rich work on Christmas in Lagos. The win cements his place as one of Nollywood’s most visionary costume designers, celebrated for using wardrobe to bring characters and settings to life with style and authenticity.
Christmas In Lagos tells the story of a bustling city during the festive season, weaving together narratives of family, love, and societal class. But what truly elevated the film’s storytelling was Adeyemi’s ability to reflect the spirit of Lagos through fashion—creating a visual feast of modern street style, traditional wear, and Christmas flair.
Each character was dressed with intentionality: from the no-nonsense, fashion-forward matriarch navigating the Lagos hustle to the suave diasporan returnee reconnecting with his roots, costumes played a vital role in shaping their personalities and grounding the story in its urban Nigerian setting. The film’s costume design didn’t just decorate the screen—it told its own story of culture, identity, and celebration.
Adeyemi’s win came in a strong category featuring impressive contenders. Toyin Ogundeji brought ethereal realism to Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre with her mythological costuming. Bolanle Austen-Peters, Yolanda Okereke, Juliana Dede, and Gloria Oyu created regal, historically detailed designs for House Of Ga’a. The duo of Oluwatoyin Balogun and Oyeade Adeimpe Adedimeji gave Lisabi: The Uprising its rebellious flair, while Opeyemi Sogeke’s futuristic vision for Phoenix Fury showcased bold, Afrofuturist styling.
Still, it was Adeyemi’s immersive, fashion-forward yet deeply Nigerian aesthetic that set Christmas In Lagos apart—reminding audiences and critics alike that contemporary stories deserve just as much costume brilliance as historical epics.
