- Title: KENYA: Kenyans beam with pride over Lupita Nyong'o's Oscar win
- Date: 4th March 2014
- Summary: NAIROBI, KENYA (MARCH 03, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF KINYUA WORKING ON HIS LAPTOP (SOUNDBITE) (English) ANGELO KINYUA, ACTOR AND DIRECTOR, SAYING: "In fact when she told me that she was going to Yale to study acting I was like, in Kenya, that wasn't a career per se, especially in those years. It was something that you do on the side while you study for something for a b
- Embargoed: 19th March 2014 12:00
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- Location: Kenya
- Country: Kenya
- Topics: Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVAA8PC3YJXF2S1GLKAGKOFNGWPQ
- Story Text: Kenya's capital city, Nairobi woke up to news of Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong'o's Best Supporting Actress award - the country's first, at a ceremony in the United States on Sunday (March 02).
Nyong'o's victory made the headlines of all the country's newspapers and was the topic of the day amongst many of the country's youth who say they couldn't believe a Kenyan actress could achieve such acclaim.
"I was happy because she's a Kenyan and I'm a Kenyan so she's part of us so we are proud of her," said Rachel Kiarie, a Nairobi resident.
"It was great news because honestly as Kenyans we need to be known everywhere around the world and it's good to see that a woman can represent Kenya and not necessarily a man because Kenya is honestly going far as it is. With the young generation we are going to go places," added Kevin Munene, another Nairobi resident.
Nyong'o won the Oscar for best supporting actress for her role as the hardworking slave Patsey in drama "12 Years a Slave," capping a breakout awards season for the Yale-trained actress.
Nyong'o, 31, won the Oscar in her first feature film role, earning a thunderous standing ovation from the Hollywood audience. She beat fellow frontrunner Jennifer Lawrence's portrayal of a loopy housewife in caper "American Hustle," in one of the most closely-watched Academy Award races this year.
Nyong'o's acting career began in Kenya working with local performers. Angelo Kinyua, a Kenyan actor and director filmed a short with Nyong'o in 2009 titled "By the Roadside." Kinyua, who now runs a production company says he remembers Nyong'o as a performer with drive and passion.
"In fact when she told me that she was going to Yale to study acting I was like in Kenya, that wasn't a career per se, especially in those years. It was something that you do on the side while you study for something for a better career like a lawyer or doctor or something, but it was that dedication and belief in her vocation we can call it, or her passion that you could tell that this is someone who is going to go far in her chosen field," said Kinyua.
Nyong'o attended Rusinga, an exclusive private school in Nairobi before moving to the United States for her university studies. Patricia Kariuki, Head Teacher at Rusinga said she hoped Nyong'o would be able to come back one day and help train young, upcoming actors at the school.
"Her mother did visit our school I think two weeks ago and she is interested to know how we have kept up the drama and the theatre, and even Lupita can plug in to help her own school. So we are looking forward to that moment, and we are looking foreword to receiving her, just as a motivator for this children that they too can achieve whatever their dream is. So we are very very glad, we are feeling very blessed, and very happy," said Kariuki.
Drama and performance teacher, Patrick Teiya who helped encourage Nyong'o's interest in acting expressed his pride at the young star's achievements.
"The greatest thing for a teacher is to be able to see someone you have worked with getting to that point you know where they are receiving accolades all over. There is nothing that gives a teacher so much joy than that. I mean You can't describe it, and nothing beats that," quipped Teiya.
In a country where a career in the arts is often frowned upon and thought as fleeting, Nyong'o's Oscar win is being celebrated as a watershed moment. For many of these children at her former school, her title is a sign that they too can achieve the same success and perhaps bring other high profile awards to the East African country. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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