The most interesting non-musical category sees Hollywood’s golden girl Lupita Nyong’o going up against comedian Trevor Noah, author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, footballer Yaya Toure and Nigerian actress Omotola Jalade Ekeinde for Personality Of the Year.
According to mtvbase.com the award “recognises personalities and achievers active outside of the music space who are excelling in their chosen field and who are representing Africa in a positive light both at home and abroad in disciplines such as comedy, fashion, literature and sport.”
After winning an Oscar for her powerful performance as Patsey in 12 Years A Slave, Hollywood hasn’t been able to get enough of the Mexican-Kenyan actress. It is the depth of her role as an enslaved woman that attracted attention. Throughout the Oscar-winning historical drama, Nyongo managed to portray fragility, as well as strength and a defiant will despite the brutality the character endures at the hands of a sadistic plantation owner. It’s not often that an actor’s performance lingers in your mind long after you’re seen a film, and that is what Nyong’o managed to achieve in her breakthrough role.
If this category was for Best Performance of the Year, it would likely go to Nyongo, but for Personality of the Year, she is not deserving – yet.
South African comedian Trevor Noah stands a better chance of taking this accolade. Having sold more DVDs than any other comedian in South Africa, Noah can easily be regarded as the most successful stand-up performer in the country. And after becoming the first African comedian to perform on Jay Leno’s The Tonight Show in the United States, he is slowly building a base of loyal fans overseas.
Source: Citizen
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