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In the realm of international cinema and the quest for recognition at the prestigious Oscars, Nigeria has made its presence known with three noteworthy submissions to date. These submissions, although yet to secure a spot on the final shortlist, signify a significant stride in the country's cinematic journey.
The recent announcement of Nigeria's selection for the 96th Academy Awards is a matter of pride, especially considering the prolonged silence from the Nigerian Official Selection Committee (NOSC) following the Academy's submission deadline of October 2.
Nigeria, like other countries, is allowed to submit one entry for the International Feature Film (IFF) category—a category designated for feature-length movies primarily produced outside the United States, with a significant portion of the dialogue in a language other than English.
Here are three Nigerian films that have been submitted for the Oscars:
Lionheart:
Nigeria's debut submission for the Oscars arrived in 2019 with "Lionheart," directed by Genevieve Nnaji and produced by Chinny Onwugbenu in 2018. This film, submitted for the 92nd Academy Awards held in 2020, depicted the story of Adaeze Obiagu, portrayed by Nnaji herself, who steps in to manage her father's company due to his health issues. However, it was met with a setback as the Academy rejected it for not meeting the 50% foreign language criteria at that time, primarily because the dialogue was in Igbo and Pidgin English, with the latter not yet recognized as a foreign language.
The Milkmaid:
In 2020, Nigeria submitted "The Milkmaid," a film written, produced, and directed by Desmond Ovbiagele. This Hausa-language feature was Nigeria's first film to gain acceptance by the Academy, representing the country at the 93rd Academy Awards in 2021. Despite this milestone, it didn't advance to the final shortlist. The film, currently available for streaming on Prime Video, follows the journey of a Fulani milkmaid confronting religious extremists in rural sub-Saharan Africa in search of her missing sister.
Mami Wata:
Breaking a two-year hiatus without submissions at the Oscars, Nigeria's selection for the 96th Academy Awards in 2024 is "Mami Wata." Directed by CJ Obasi, one of the contributors to "Lionheart," this black and white film in Pidgin English is a significant step forward. The film's submission marks the fulfillment of a long-standing endeavor to include Pidgin English as a recognized foreign language. The IFF Executive Committee will soon decide if "Mami Wata" will make it to the shortlist for the 96th Oscars, set to take place on March 10, 2024. This captivating film tells the tale of an African mermaid in a village embroiled in chaos due to disputes between villagers and the goddess's intermediary over the village's deteriorating state.
These three submissions reflect Nigeria's growing presence on the global cinematic stage, even as the country continues to strive for a coveted spot on the Oscars' final shortlist.
