The NAACP Image awards celebrate the outstanding achievements and performances of people of color in the arts (motion picture, television, recording, and literature), as well as those
individuals or groups who promote social justice through their creative endeavors.
Victor Sila
There are several African nominees in the mix this year who we can honestly say truly deserve it. Gabourey Sidibe is having an astounding year with her first film, ‘Precious‘, which brought many to tears as they experienced the horrors of abuse with her character. Sila and the Afrofunk Experience have been nominated for their song, ‘Black President’, putting them in a well-deserved limelight. Oumou Sangare’s song, Seya, has also been nominated in the Outstanding World Music Album category.
Farai Chideya, the African-American/Zimbabwean author is nominated for Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author for her novel, ‘Kiss the Sky: A Novel’, which is currently on the Essence book list.
The complete list of African nominees are listed below:
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
– Idris Elba – “Obsessed” (Screen Gems)
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
– Gabourey Sidibe – “Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire” (Lionsgate)
– Sophie Okonedo – “Skin” (Jour De Fete Films)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
– Chiwetel Ejiofor – “2012” (Columbia Pictures)
Outstanding World Music Album
– “Black President” – Sila and the Afrofunk Experience (Visila Records)
– “ReCreation” – Zap Mama (Heads Up International/Concord Music Group)
– “Seya” – Oumou Sangare (Nonesuch/World Circuit)
Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author
– “Kiss the Sky: A Novel” – Farai Chideya (Atria Books)
Congratulations to all of them. Win or lose, they are still projecting a positive image of
Africans and we applaud them!