By Charles Okogene
When it was announced sometime last month that British Nigerian actor, Chiwetel Ejiofor, was nominated for the Oscars, many lovers of good film and those who have been following the steady rise of the actor in the international level right from his base in the UK, were happy that at last, his efforts would finally be recognised.
In Nigeria, it was another level of frenzy as the Enugu State government, the home state of his parents, placed adverts in major newspapers to congratulate him ahead of the D-day even though some saw the gesture as ridiculous. Nevertheless, they truly wanted him to win, at least, to be the first Nigerian to win.
Shortly before the Oscars, he won an equally prestigious award – BAFTA, which stands for British Academy of Film and Television Arts. That, to most people, was an added advantage for Ejiofor to win the Oscars but it was not to be. He lost the Oscars to a Mexican-Kenyan actress, Lupita Amondi Nyong’o.
Let me give you a brief history of Nyong’o’s acting career. After graduating from Hampshire College with a Bachelor’s degree in Film and Theatre Studies, Nyong’o, born in 1983, worked as a Production Assistant on several Hollywood films. In 2008, she made her acting debut with the short film, East River, and subsequently starred in the Kenyan television series, Shuga, in 2009.
Also in 2009, she wrote, produced and directed the documentary film, In My Genes. Nyong’o, who is also a film and music video director, later completed a Master’s degree in Acting from the Yale School of Drama, followed by her first feature film role in Steve McQueen ‘s historical drama, 12 Years a Slave, last year. Her role in the film was widely acclaimed, earning her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, among numerous other awards and nominations.
The film tells the real-life story of Solomon Northup, played by Chiwitel Ejiofor, a freeborn African American man, who is sold into slavery in 1841. Nyong’o played the role of Patsey, a slave who works alongside Northup at a cotton plantation.
On the other hand, the protagonist of the award winning film, Chiwetel Ejiofor, has received numerous awards and nominations which is not limited to but includes BAFTA Orange Rising Star award in 2006, five Golden Globe Award nominations, the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor, aside an OBE (Order of the British Empire) by Queen Elizabeth 11, among others. He has starred in box office hit movies such as Serenity, Salt, Children of Men and Kinky Boots, among others.
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