The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lupita Nyong’o

  • Lupita Nyong’o drops new ‘Sulwe’ book aimed to be a ‘Mirror’ for black children

    Lupita Nyongo has released a new children’s book that she hopes will serve as a ‘mirror’ for dark-skinned children who don’t often see images of themselves in mainstream media. In a lengthy post on social media, Nyong’o shared her own experiences with colorism discrimination is why she wrote, “Sulwe,” which means ‘star.’

    The Academy Award-winning actress said Sulwe is designed to hold a “mirror for dark-skinned children especially, to see themselves reflected, immediately.”

    She added, “Colorism, society’s preference for lighter skin, is alive and well. It’s not just a prejudice reserved for places with a largely white population. Throughout the world, even in Kenya, even today, there is a popular sentiment that lighter is brighter”, Nyong’o wrote. Nyong’o took to Instagram in early 2018 to announce “Sulwe,” which is aimed at readers between the ages of 5 and 7.

    “I am pleased to reveal that I have written a children’s book! It’s called “Sulwe”!” she said in a statement at the time. “Sulwe is a dark skinned girl who goes on a starry-eyed adventure, and awakens with a reimagined sense of beauty. She encounters lessons that we learn as children and spend our lives unlearning. This is a story for little ones, but no matter the age I hope it serves as an inspiration for everyone to walk with joy in their own skin.”

    “Sulwe” will be released on October 15

  • Lupita Nyong’o, John Boyega as next big conversation in Nollywood

    Hollywood actress, Lupita Nyong’o who was in Lagos for the proposed film adaptation of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s ‘Americanah’, and British-Nigerian actor, John Boyega’s N9billion film project to be shot in Lagos, are some of the events that made the cover of ‘Cinema in Lagos’, as the colourful magazine does more for the destination marketing of Lagos with these two African international actors.

    Edited by Olumide Iyanda who, in his Editor’s Note, quoted Ambode as saying that activities within the tourism sector contributed N800billion to the state’s GDP in 2017, ‘Cinema in Lagos’, according to Iyanda, is largely devoted to promoting the city as a desired film and tourism destination in the light of the immense contribution of Nollywood to the Lagos economy.

    Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Steve Ayorinde recalled that, just like the latest edition, the first edition of the magazine was unveiled in Cannes last year, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of the festival and 50th anniversary of Lagos State.

    Ayorinde’s thoughts are captured in the magazine, of how Lagos Sate is flying the flag of Nigeria in the biggest festival in the world.

    He said: “The Lagos State Government sponsored a pavilion at the International Film Village, giving Nollywood yet another opportunity to showcase itself to the world. But for that singular gesture, Nigeria would have been totally absent from the very important world cinema event at a time when the industry needs all the exposure it can get on the international scene.”

    Other Nigerians at the festival include Mr. Dele Balogun, Executive Secretary, Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board; Audio Visual Attaché of the French Embassy, Lagos, Yoann Talhouarne; Executive Director, National Film and Video Censors Board, Alhaji Adedayo Thomas and notable On-Air-Personality, Fade Ogunro among others.

  • Rise and rise of LUPITA NYONG’O

    Rise and rise of LUPITA NYONG’O

    Kenyan-Mexican actress, Lupita Nyong’o has said she will use her springing career to speak out on important issues.

    The dark-skinned actress, who plays Nakia in the rave making movie, ‘Black Panther’ is on the cover of the March Edition of ‘Marie Claire SA’ magazine.

    “I believe in using the platform my career has given me to speak out on important issues,” her cover tagline reads.

    Last Tuesday, the award-winning star was listed alongside Nollywood’s elite who will be presenting at Oscar Awards.

    “These actors have embodied some of the most heroic, aspirational and indelible characters ever brought to the screen. In so doing, they’ve not only entertained the world, but illuminated the full range of the human experience,” said Oscar producers Michael De Luca and Jennifer Todd.

    The 90th Academy Awards, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, will air on Sunday March 4 on ABC.

  • Black Panther smashes box office records with $218m

    Black Panther smashes box office records with $218m

    Disney-Marvel’s “ Black Panther ” is heading for a super-heroic $218 million debut over the four-day President’s Day weekend at 4,020 North American locations, estimates showed Sunday.

    That number means that “Black Panther,” starring Chadwick Boseman and directed by Ryan Coogler, has doubled its original tracking in less than a month.

    The film, which carries an estimated $200 million production cost, had been tracking to bring in between an impressive $100 and $120 million when first estimates emerged on Jan. 25.

    Since then, “Black Panther” has become a must-see movie for many moviegoers, underlined when Thursday previews brought in $25.2 million, the largest Thursday night preview gross for a February opener and the second-largest preview gross for a Marvel film.

    The film’s estimated three-day gross of $192 million is the highest debut ever for a February film and the fifth highest of all time.

    Combined with an estimated international debut of $169 million from 69 percent of the international market, the estimated global debut stands at $361 million through Sunday.

    “Black Panther” has demolished the record for the largest Presidents Day weekend, blowing past “Deadpool‘s” 2016 mark of $152 million.

    Overall North American movie going for the four-day period should hit $300 million — far above the $278 million mark in 2016, according to comScore.

    “This is proof that the big screen experience may arguably be the most powerful platform of change in our society,“ said Paul Dergarabedian,”senior media analyst with comScore.

    “The emotional, communal, immersive and bigger than life theatrical experience has an impact that virtually no other medium can match.”
    Comscore’s PostTrak survey of the audience showed outstanding numbers with 77 percent rating “Black Panther” as “excellent” and another 18 percent as “very good.”

    Boseman portrays King T‘Challa, ruler of Wakanda, a technologically advanced society, who conflicts with Michael B. Jordan’s Eric Killmonger, who intends to take over the throne.

    Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong‘o, Angela Bassett, Danai Gurira, and Daniel Kaluuya also star. It’s received an A+ CinemaScore, the only Marvel film to have done so besides 2012’s “The Avengers.”

    NAN/Reuters

  • LUPITA NYONG’O MAKES BROADWAY DEBUT

    LUPITA NYONG’O MAKES BROADWAY DEBUT

    HER play Eclipsed packed in the crowds with a sold-out run last year. And now Lupita Nyong’o has made her Broadway debut as the intense drama opened for previews at The John Golden Theatre in New York on Tuesday.

    The Oscar-winner smiled and bowed with the cast members after their first preview. The play was written by playwright and Walking Dead actress Danai Gurira, who also attended the show.

    Eclipsed centers on a group of women who are kept captive by a rebel leader in war-torn Liberia. They band together to create a community, until the arrival of Lupita’s rebel new girl character upsets their routine.

    She wore a tattered blue tank top with ripped jeans and chunky boots. And theStar Wars actress pulled her hair up in elaborate braids and wrapped a red bandana around her head.

    In addition to her Broadway run, Lupita will next be seen in the live action version of The Jungle Book.

    On Tuesday, her costars Zainab Jah and Akosua Busia also joined her on stage as they re-launched the show, which officially opens on March 6.

    Writer and actor Danai looked glamorous in a tight colbalt blue dress with white and black geometric patterns. She added a long black coat and heels, and wore dark red lipstick and dramatic blue eyeshadow.

    The play was first produced at The Public Theater Off-Broadway, and earned rave reviews after its debut in October. It also drew a big crowd, and was extended twice before closing on November 29 after a sold-out run.

    The show is also making history as the the first Broadway play to feature a cast and creative team that are all women and are all black.

    Also attending the first preview was actress Kathleen Turner. The 61-year-old wore a long black coat over a grey top, and added a purple backpack as she posed for photos.

    Trailblazing ballet dancer Misty Copeland, 33, also attended the preview. The ballerina, who became the first African-American female principal dancer at The American Ballet Theater, looked chic in a navy ensemble under an elegant black cape.

    Singer Deborah Cox and Top Chef judge Gail Simmons also attended the preview on Tuesday. The R&B singer bundled up in a black coat and cozy sweater, and added a black hat, while food writer Gail wore a long tan coat and large brimmed black hat.

  • Thief belittles Lupita Nyong’o’s Oscar dress

    Thief belittles Lupita Nyong’o’s Oscar dress

    •Returns outfit, says it’s fake

    Until the dress got missing and was returned by the anonymous thief, the white custom Calvin Klein gown Lupita wore to present J. K. Simmons’s Best Supporting Actor, at the just-concluded Academy Awards, was one of the biggest stories of the show.

    It caused more stirs as police were flustered as to how her Oscar dress escaped detection when it was taken from her hotel room, but soon discovered it was thrown off her balcony.

    TMZ reported that the cameras weren’t trained on Lupita’s door and none of the cameras on the floor showed anything suspicious.

    The guy who stole the dress had called the news medium, Friday, with a road map to its recovery in The London West Hollywood bathroom where the 12 Years a Slave actress had lodged. The thief said he knew where the cameras were placed in the hallway so he was never seen. As for the dress, he claimed he threw it over the balcony and someone on the ground picked it up.

    On why he returned the dress, the thief said he took two of the pearls off the dress and down to the Garment District for appraisal, but found they were worthless. He then decided to return the dress.

    According to the thief, he regretted not taking Lupita’s Oscar gift bag instead, which he valued at $125,000.

    Meanwhile, Los Angeles sheriff’s spokeswoman Nicole Nishida said the dress found on Friday afternoon at a West Hollywood hotel “greatly resembles” the pearl-adorned Calvin Klein Collection by Francisco Costa dress Nyong’o wore to the Academy Awards.

    She said detectives are attempting to verify the recovered dress is the same one Nyong’o wore.

    Encrusted with 6,000 white Akoya pearls, Fortune estimated it was worth $150,000.

  • David Oyelowo, Lupita Nyong’o for two Hollywood films

    David Oyelowo, Lupita Nyong’o for two Hollywood films

    Nigerian-British actor, David Oyelowo and Oscar-winning actress, Lupita Nyong’o will be sharing close ties this year, with plans to play together in two Hollywood films.

    According to earlier reports, Oyelowo and Nyong’o are attached to Americanah, another exciting literature by Chimamanda Adichie, which is being adapted into a movie.

    With Americana still in the works, both stars are also said to be in talks with the producers of Disney’s The Queen of Katwe, a story about a young girl from the slums of Uganda who, with the help of her coach, becomes a chess prodigy.

    Mira Nair is expected to direct the film from a script by William Wheeler, who also penned the screenplay for Nair’s previous film, The Reluctant Fundamentalist.

    The story is based on an ESPN Magazine article and the 2012 book The Queen of Katwe: A Story of Life, Chess, and One Extraordinary Girl’s Dream of Becoming a Grandmaster, both by Tim Crothers.

    Oyelowo, who is traveling the awards circuit this season with his lead role as Martin Luther King Jr. in Paramount’s Selma, will play the coach, Robert Katende, while Nyong’o takes on the role of the child’s mother, Harriet Mutesi.

    The actor has played supporting roles in the films Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Middle of Nowhere, Lincoln, and garnered praise for portraying Louis Gaines in The Butler.

    Since winning the Oscar for her breakout role in 12 Years a Slave, Nyong’o has booked work on one of the most hotly sought after projects in Hollywood: Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens. She will also voice a character in Disney’s The Jungle Book.

  • MTV Base cheers Shuga star, Lupita

    MTV Base cheers Shuga star, Lupita

    FOR Kenyan actress, Lupita Nyong’o, who is the first black African to win the Best Supporting Actress award at the recently held 86th annual Academy Awards, the deluge of congratulatory messages may have just begun.

    A few days ago, music channel, MTV Base (DStv Channel 322) joins other well-wishers, who have a stake in the actress’ career, having offered Lupita her first professional acting role in a HIV and AIDS awareness drama, Shuga.

    Shuga stars Nyong’o in the role of Ayira, a confident and vivacious Nairobi college student, who is forced to come to terms with the consequences of her reckless lifestyle.