Celebrities have a lot to say about Genevieve Nnaji’s “Lionheart” Oscars Disqualification

Nigerian celebrities are not taking the disqualification of “Lionheart” lightly, although they are trying to look at the bright side of the situation.

Just as the saying goes, All publicity is good publicity, and Genevieve Nnaji‘s ‘Lionheart‘ just had major publicity despite its disqualification from the 2020 Oscars.

That’s one way to look at it.

The conversation continues to trend on Twitter, and while some are wondering “why the disqualification” since our official language is English, some are saying this is a wake up call for us to focus more on our indigenous languages, and others are saying maybe this is the time for the Academy to change its rules, allowing “foreign films,” and not just “foreign language films.”

Interestingly, the scrapping of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is also being discussed, as English is supposed to be our official language.

Scroll through to see what people are saying:

The fact that “Lionheart” is even a conversation, on that level. Mehn, I am proud of @GenevieveNnaji1

This is the beginning of something big. Now, they will pay more attention to us here

Nigerian creatives matter on all levels

— Do2dtun Energy gAD (@iamDo2dtun) November 5, 2019

An interesting take… https://t.co/zqMoVCondI

— Ebuka Obi-Uchendu (@Ebuka) November 5, 2019

Yupp! It was the only reason I was worried about the selection. I kept saying ‘Lion Heart’ is more of an English film, how will we compete with other films in other languages’?But then English is our ‘official language’. Not good that our first entry got disqualified sha. https://t.co/1NTTIVvzWy

— Kemi Lala Akindoju (@lalaakindoju) November 5, 2019

I can only imagine how many more views Lionheart will have on Netflix by the end of today! Anyhow you look at it this is a win! Stay winning @GenevieveNnaji1

— Deyemi (@_deyemi) November 5, 2019

Academy has been around before Nollywood. Let Nollywood follow the rules if they want to participate!! Else maintain your domain and not try to stretch! https://t.co/ROsnT3He3r

— Gabriel Afolayan. (@gabbylucciii) November 5, 2019

Explore!!! Don't be scared!!! Pidgin dey ground!!! Yoruba dey ground!! Igbo dey ground!!! Hausa dey ground!!! Efik dey, kogi dey, uhrobo, isoko et al!!! Industry Stop dulling!!!!

— Gabriel Afolayan. (@gabbylucciii) November 5, 2019

Mediocrity in Nollywood jus played itself out on the world stage.

— Gabriel Afolayan. (@gabbylucciii) November 5, 2019

It’s so unfortunate that the academy disqualified Lionheart from an Oscar nom… it sucks to be unfairly disqualified, wrongfully placed and generally just discarded by the world that was not created by us to begin with. A very familiar feeling …

— VICTORIA KIMANI (@VICTORIA_KIMANI) November 5, 2019

Kai so English language may effect #LIVINGINBONDAGETHESEQUEL oscar chances next year ??‍♀️ yes its THAT good…. go watch it on Friday so we can all talk about it here….
tweet no spoilers!!

— Uche Jombo Rodriguez (@uchejombo) November 5, 2019