Some Nigerians have expressed anger at the choice of Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong’o as a Nigerian character in the 10-episode screen adaption of the novel Americanah.
Nigerian award winning author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s prize-winning bestseller was published in 2013.
The novel tells the story of a Nigerian woman woman who goes to the US to attend university and her subsequent return to Lagos.
On Friday WarnerMedia announced that Kenya’s Lupita will be playing a lead role.
HBO Max orders limited series ‘Americanah’ based on Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s best-selling novel of the same name. The 10-episode series will star @Lupita_Nyongo with the pilot written by showrunner @DanaiGurira: https://t.co/ncZXyTMvzT pic.twitter.com/deDrJtUzE4
— WarnerMedia (@WarnerMediaGrp) September 13, 2019
But not everyone is happy about the role given to the Oscar award-winner Nyong’o.
Some Nigerians argued that her role would be better suited to a Nigerian who could do the Igbo local accent.
Opinions on social media
Social media users in Nigerian have been expressing their views.
But we have a whole Nigerian actress who speaks the Igbo language and has the actual accent. We LOVE Lupita, but please give @GenevieveNnaji1 this role. Thank you. pic.twitter.com/lKm06sJBGp
— Nena (@iamNeinah) September 14, 2019
When you can – You would go for the best..!!
Lupita playing that role will suffer one thing and one thing alone..
The “Igbo” accent..But if we can put that aside..we would all agree that she will interpret the character perfectly..
So the question is..
Na accent be problem..?— Duke Edoho (@droayung) September 14, 2019
They need to stop doing this. We have fine actresses from Nigeria who can play these roles better. Lupita is good but try other people who are Nigerians. What, she’s going to be told or taught how to speak Half-baked Igbo instead of A real Nigerian? https://t.co/lo0eoPSjwL
— ALMOST A BILLIONAIRE (@MeetHajaar) September 14, 2019
Support for Lupita
But some social media users have defended Lupita’s selection for the role.
They need to stop doing this. We have fine actresses from Nigeria who can play these roles better. Lupita is good but try other people who are Nigerians. What, she’s going to be told or taught how to speak Half-baked Igbo instead of A real Nigerian? https://t.co/lo0eoPSjwL
— ALMOST A BILLIONAIRE (@MeetHajaar) September 14, 2019
Periodt!
One step at a time.
Hollywood is a business and Lupita will bring in the people.
Actors should play CHARACTER.A Nigerian actress should be able to play Kenyan and vice versa.
— Twink Print MOST LOVED (@goodsisnicki) September 14, 2019
We as Nigerians should be proud that at least our entertainment/literary industry is getting recognised.
It’s sad that non-Nigerians (or Nigerians in diaspora) are the ones investing in us since we cannot do it for ourselves.
Thus we should be supportive and stop complaining.— Azúcar ? (@Ms_Kellay) September 14, 2019
When lion king featured all west african artist it was no big deal?and yet everything was east african more so brand kenya,shut up feel what we felt ,go lupita do this mscheeeewww! We are the best imitators it pains hhahahahah.
— Doris Angwenyi (@AngwenyiDoris) September 15, 2019
Source: Africafeeds.com
