Nigerian filmmaker Tunde Kelani, writer Chinonye Chukwu & film exec Funa Maduka invited to Oscars

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, on Monday, has announced the list of the invitees to join the prestigious organisation.

Making the list are Nigerian filmmaker Tunde Kelani, who was invited under the Directors’ category, Nigerian Chinonye Chukwu, invited under the writers’ category and Nigerian-born American-raised Netflix acquisition executive, Ifunanya Maduka, better known as Funa Maduka. Funa was invited under the executive’s category.

Reacting to the invitation, Chinonye calls the invite “pretty cool.”

Pretty damn cool to be invited to join @TheAcademy. ?https://t.co/lmbhLnDc2z

— Chinonye Chukwu (@ChinonyeC) July 1, 2019

Funa echoes the same sentiment as Chinonye in her reaction on Instagram.

“Pretty cool news today. Thanks, @theacademy,” she writes on the ‘gram.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BsYxUIaHYN2/

The Academy says 842 new members were invited from 59 countries, half of who are female (first in the history of the Academy). Also of interest is that 29% of those invited are people of colour – read that as non-whites. Industry experts say the number of non-whites invited, if they accepted, means the Academy will have doubled the percentage of nonwhite people in their ranks in four years.

It would be recalled that the Academy had been under fire in the past few years for almost non-existent nonwhites representation, which lead to the #OscarSoWhite trending on social media and a call for black actors to boycott the event in 2016.

By all intent, it seems the Academy has listened and has committed to the diversification and inclusion of the Oscars.

Last year, Nigeria’s actress and star of Alter Ego, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde made history by becoming the first Nigeria actor to join the Academy. And, of course, seeing more Nigerians join the prestigious organisation is certainly a boost for Nollywood and calls for a celebration.

Congratulations to all invitees.