Entertainment
5 Nigerians Who Have Received Oscars Nomination, Award

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.
READ ALSO: Moment John Cena Went Naked To Present Award At Oscars [VIDEO]
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.
READ ALSO: See Full List Of Winners At The 96th Oscars
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.
READ ALSO: Umahi Commends Obaseki On His Committment In Constructing Durable Concrete Roads
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.
Entertainment
I’ve Been Blacklisted In Music Industry For 13 Years – Seun Kuti
Grammy-nominated Afrobeat singer, Seun Kuti has claimed that he has been blacklisted in the Nigerian music industry for about 13 years due to his style of music.
He explained that because his late father Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and his contemporaries used their music as a form of protest against bad governance, the government invested heavily in vain artists while targeting conscious musicians.
Speaking in a recent episode of the Saleh Meditate podcast, Kuti said government’s interference has significantly affected the quality and impact of modern Nigerian music.
He, however, said being blacklisted in Nigeria doesn’t affect him much, stressing that the country is just a fraction of his fanbase.
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He said, “The impact of Fela and his contemporaries who spoke truth to power sacred the government. They made the government realised the power of artistry. So, the government invested more in artists who don’t make conscious music than artists who sing about realities.
“When I am in Nigeria, I don’t fear to say whatever I want to say. That is a lot of people are saying that I should be cancelled. I have been cancelled for about 13 years now after I performed conscious music at former Lagos State Governor Ambode’s event. Even before then, my music was heavily restricted.
“I have been cancelled for long. People think I am not cancelled because I am doing well. Nigeria has cancelled me long time but Nigeria is just like a really small percentage of my market. So, being cancelled doesn’t really affect me.”
He added that artists who are scared of being blacklisted are only scared because Nigeria makes up the bulk of their fanbase.
Entertainment
My Beef With Wizkid Is For Life – Seun Kuti
Maverick singer Seun Kuti has ruled out reconciliation with Afrobeats star, Wizkid, declaring that their rift is lifelong.
DAILY POST recalls that Seun Kuti and Wizkid fell apart after the latter claimed he was greater than Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti in response to the former’s directive to fans to stop comparing the Ojuelegba crooner to the late music legend.
READ ALSO:How My Elder Sister Opposed Selling Fela’s Catalogue – Femi Kuti
When asked in a recent podcast if he has settled his beef with Wizkid, Seun Kuti said he can’t reconcile with the Starboy boss because he disrespected his late dad.
The host asked: “Have you and Wizkid settled your Beef?”
Kuti replied: “It is on for life. I don’t have anything to say about him but it is on for life. You don’t say things about my dad and then it is fine. There is no coming back from that.”
Entertainment
Why I Stopped Attending Church Service – Funke Akindele
Famous Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele, has opened up on why she lost interest in attending church service.
The actress who made the revelation in a Snapchat video on Sunday, stated that she stopped going to church because attention often shifted to her rather than the service.
While explaining that she’s always the one they take pictures of, the actress said she now joins church service online.
READ ALSO:Drama As Eniola Badmus Challenges Funke Akindele To Celebrity Boxing Fight
Akindele said “Anytime I go to church, I am always the one they take pictures of. So I will join online.”
Recall that in 2022, Akindele openly identified herself with the Celestial Church of Christ.
“Every time I have challenges I go to the Celestial church quietly at night for solutions. But I have to stop hiding and publicly identify with the church”, she said.
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