The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, organizers of The Oscars, has released its list of its 2018 members and Nigerian actress and singer Omotola Jalade Ekeinde is on it.
Omotola is one of the 928 new members which comprises 49% female and 38% people of colour. This is in response to the call for diversity in the Academy’s membership as it was said to be white dominated.
She has featured in over 300 movies since her film debut in the 1995 movie Venom of Justice and has received several high profile awards, with the membership of the prestigious Academy being another feather added to her cap. She is among Times Magazine’s 100 most influential people along with former American first lady, Michelle Obama and music idol, Beyonce, and holds the title of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic, MFR for her contributions to the film industry in Nigerian. In 2005, she ventured into music and at the moment has 3 albums. She also launched a reality show, The Real Me, in 2012 on DSTV’s Africa Magic Entertainment.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is a professional honorary organization with the objective of advancing the arts and sciences of motion pictures. It is renowned worldwide most popularly for its annual Academy Awards commonly referred to as The Oscars.
Membership of the Academy is strictly by invitation from the Academy’s Board of Governors. One is eligible for membership only if they have earned competitive Oscar nominations or by the sponsorship of two current Academy members. The branch committees then make recommendations to the board of governors after a thorough review before an invitation is sent.
Omotola may have received the membership invitation based on the 2010 movie The Private Storm which was nominated for an Oscar and Last Flight to Abuja which received 5 nominations in 2013. As a member of the Academy, she will be eligible to nominate and vote for winners in her field for the upcoming Academy Awards scheduled for the 24th of February, 2019.