Entertainment

5 Nigerians Who Have Received Oscars Nomination, Award

Published

2 years ago

March 11, 2024

Movie stars made their way to the Hollywood’s biggest night when the 2024 Oscars held at Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday.

It was a night of glamour and glory as the best of Hollywood stars gathered to celebrate their success and achievements in the film industry.

Over time, cinema stars of Nigeria descent have attended this spectacular celebration.

In this article, we take a look at five Nigerians who have been nominated and awarded at the prestigious Oscars awards.

Nigerians who have received nomination, awards at Oscars
Cynthia Erivo

Cynthia Onyedinmanasu Chinasaokwu Erivo is an English actress, singer, and songwriter born to Nigerian parents. She has received numerous awards, as her distinct ability continues to stand out. The dynamic actress has two Academy Award nominations to her credit. The first nomination was for Best Actress in the film Harriet. The second was for Best Original Song Stand Up Still in the film Harriet. Both Oscar nominations came during the 92nd Academy Awards.

Chiwetel Ejiofor

Chiwetel Umeadi Ejiofor CBE is a British-Nigerian actor and filmmaker whose parents are from the Igbo tribe. After enrolling at the National Youth Theatre in 1995 and attending the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, at the age of 19 and three months into his education, Steven Spielberg cast Ejiofor as James Covey in the film Amistad. Since then, he has received international attention for his work.Chiwetel was nominated for Best Actor in the 2013 film 12 Years a Slave at the 86th Academy Awards in 2014.

Sophie Okonedo

She’s a British-Nigerian actor and storyteller. Her Nigerian blood comes from her father’s side. Her film career began with the British coming-of-age drama Young Soul Rebels, followed by Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls and Stephen Frears’ Dirty Pretty Things. An actress who merits a standing ovation anytime she appears on screen. Okonedo’s breakout performance occurred in 2004, when she co-starred in the film Hotel Rwanda as Tatiana Rusesabagina, the wife of Rwandan hotel manager and philanthropist Paul, played by American actor Don Cheadle. In 2005, she became the second Black female Briton to be nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the 77th Academy Awards.

Forest Whitaker

Forest Whitaker is an exceptional American actor, director, and producer. His ancestors are from Nigeria. Indeed, his father’s ancestors are from the Igbo tribe of Nigeria. They are specifically from Nkwere, an Igbo town. Forest Whitaker was given the honorary title of chief ‘Nwannedinambe de Nkewere’, which means ‘a brother in a foreign nation’. He is making a significant difference in that strange place since he is one of the few black actors in America who are at the top of their game. Whitaker earned an Oscar for his role as Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in the 2006 film The Last King of Scotland. He received the Oscar for Best Actor at the 79th Academy Awards in 2007.

Temilade Openiyi

Temilade Openiyi, a.k.a Tems, was nominated for the 95th edition of the Oscars award, Although she didn’t win her category, she made history as the first Nigerian artiste to be nominated at the awards.

Tems received the Best Original Song nomination for her collaboration with Rihanna on the song ‘Lift Me Up’. The duo was nominated in the ‘Best Original Song’ category.

‘Lift Me Up’ was one of Marvel’s ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ soundtracks. Rihanna co-wrote the soulful song with Tems, and the music was produced by Ludwig Göransson, and directed by Ryan Coogler.

Up Next

Kizz Daniel Faces Backlash Over Way He Greeted Wizkid In Viral Video[WATCH]

Don't Miss

DJ Cuppy Regrets Saying Yes To Ex-fiance, Ryan Taylor [VIDEO]

Comments

Entertainment

Anthony Joshua Returns To UK In Private Jet

Published

10 hours ago

January 4, 2026

Editor

Former world heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua, has flown back to the United Kingdom (UK) following the horror crash that left him hospitalised and killed two of his close friends, Sun newspaper reported on Saturday night.

The boxer landed at London Stansted Airport in a private jet on Friday night and was ferried to his mansion, where he’ll continue his recuperation.

Joshua’s strength coach, Sina Ghami and his personal trainer, Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele, both 36, died after the vehicle they were travelling in ploughed into a stationary truck near the Sagamu axis of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway on Monday.

Joshua, 36, had to be pulled from the mangled wreckage but fortunately only sustained minor injuries in the crash.

This comes as there were reports that the funerals of Joshua’s friends will be held today at a mosque in London.

Family and friends have been invited to a “janaza prayer service” – an Islamic prayer – and funeral of Ghami and Ayodele in the morning.

Joshua is undecided as to whether he will attend the funeral, out of fear that his presence could cause a “circus”.

A source said: “Anthony wants to go to the funeral but he hasn’t decided yet, he’s mindful that his presence could cause a circus and overshadow the funeral for the family of his two friends.”

Entertainment

PHOTOS: Anthony Joshua Makes First Social Media Post After Surviving Deadly Car Crash

Published

10 hours ago

January 4, 2026

Editor

Former world heavyweight boxing champion, Anthony Joshua, has broken his silence after a deadly car crash in Nigeria that killed two of his close friends and team members.

In a post on his official Facebook account on Sunday, he made his first public comment since the crash.

Joshua shared the post, pictured alongside the families of Sina and Latz, with the caption “My Brother’s Keeper ❤️🕊️❤️.”

The image shows the former heavyweight champion offering support and solidarity to the families.

Both Sina and Latz are scheduled to be laid to rest later on Sunday.

Joshua suffered minor injuries in the accident that claimed the lives of Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele on Monday, December 29, on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.

The 36-year-old boxer was released from the hospital on New Year’s Eve and flew back to the United Kingdom on Saturday.

Entertainment

How I Struggled With Masturbation, Started Smoking At 13 — Tonto Dikeh

Published

5 days ago

December 30, 2025

Editor

Popular Nollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh, has publicly shared what she described as her deliverance from smoking, alcohol addiction, masturbation, and long-standing anger issues during a Sunday service at Streams of Joy International Church.

Dikeh gave the testimony during the New Season Prophetic Prayers and Declarations service, led by the church’s founder, Pastor Jerry Eze, according to a video shared by DCLImagery on YouTube on Sunday.

Addressing the congregation, the actress recounted that she began smoking at the age of 13 and struggled for years with alcohol and masturbation, which she said only ended through divine intervention.

“I smoked since I was 13. God healed me from masturbation, too. I have known myself to have sexual intercourse in the dream ever since I was a child,” she said.

She explained that her appearance at the altar was both an act of thanksgiving and a public testimony, adding that she initially considered withdrawing due to concerns about her image.

“The devil tried to tell me that I was supposed to protect my image. But I told myself, what image? The God that gave me the image is the same God that can take it away,” she said.

Dikeh further stated that after attending the Ghana Prayer Conference, she noticed a significant change in what she described as years of spiritual oppression.

“I realised that the weak man who held me captive all my years in my dream ran away,” she said, describing the moment as a turning point in her spiritual life.

The actress also spoke about struggling with what she called “demonic anger,” which she said had negatively affected her relationships and personal life.

“An anger that destroyed my life. Everybody had to feel it. But praying with NSPPD, God took all of those away and gave me peace,” she said.

According to Dikeh, the peace she now experiences is something she had never known before.

“I am 40 years old, and I can tell you I have never known peace until now. I am living in it,” she said.

She disclosed that her smoking habit lasted about 27 years and began after early exposure at home, using her experience to caution parents against exposing children to harmful habits.

“I started smoking because my dad was a smoker. Something as little as that habit can inhabit the lives of your children,” she said.

Dikeh added that after praying for divine help, she no longer has urges for cigarettes or alcohol.

“My body does not ask for it. My body is repelling it. Today, it is broken,” she said.

During the service, Pastor Eze prayed for the actress, declaring that “the body of sin is broken” and describing her as “a voice in her generation.”

The actress also shared photos from the church on her Instagram page, captioning them: “A living testimony of mercy. One God spared, restored, and commissioned.”