Nigerians React As Lionheart Is Disqualified From Oscars

Reactions Trail Lionheart’s Rejection For Oscars

A mix of different reactions have greeted the news that the movie submitted to represent Nigeria and Nollywood at the 2020 Oscars has been rejected by the Academy.

The ‘Lionheart’ movie by Genevieve Nnaji was picked to represent Nigeria in the Best International Feature Film category.

Naija News reports the movie was rejected because it violates an Academy rule that entries in the category must have “a predominantly non-English dialogue track.”

The news of the disqualification has generated several reactions from the micro-blogging site, Twitter. Here are some of the reactions:

So Oscar disqualified Genevieve’s LionHeart because it was filmed in English Language ?

Oya now let us submit ‘Alani Pamolekun’ that one has too much Yoruba language spoken in it.
?? ?

— Biyi The Plug ? (@BiyiThePlug) November 5, 2019

Something about this doesn’t seem fair. The film was disqualified because it’s mostly in English. Meanwhile, the official language of Nigeria is….English. https://t.co/oKOIQpBRRV

— Britni Danielle (@BritniDWrites) November 4, 2019

Disqualified from the Oscars doesn’t change the fact that Lionheart is one of Nigeria’s biggest movie yet seen.

— Richard Omo Ibo (@MeetTheRichard) November 5, 2019

“Lionheart” has been disqualified from the Oscars because it’s mostly in English which violates their Best International Feature Film rule. Fine, we move but if you come and say the movie is wack & doesn’t stand a chance at the Oscars, make I clear you now, your brain don pafuka.

— Incomplete Astronaut Ⓜ ??‍? ✈ ?️ (@AimThaMachine_) November 5, 2019

Lionheart disqualification is not ill conceived, before we cry blue murder about it.
Note, that’s the rule of the category.

Two movies were previously disqualified for the same reason(having too much english in it).

Still, Genevieve did an awesome job with Lionheart.

— Ogbuefi Okafor?? (@MistaChika) November 5, 2019

To think that some Nigerians actually complained that Lionheart had too much igbo! Only for the oscars to think it has too much English??

Total BS! Honestly I don’t even care for the oscars at this point! They might aswell change the name back to “Foreign language”

— Steven Chuks (@SteveChuks_) November 5, 2019

Imagine considering yourself a respected governing body of the arts and not knowing that English is the main language of Nigeria. #lionheart #Oscars pic.twitter.com/kuRwwcQjhQ

— Chloe *6’1 * FYourDiet.com* Hilliard (@Chloe_Hilliard) November 5, 2019