Malawian District 9 star gives Oscar nominations the thumbs-up
Malawian actor, Eugene Khumbanyiwa who starred in one of the most popular science-fiction, District 9, said he was delighted the film’s director picked up an Oscar nomination.
The film was shortlisted on Tuesday in the Best Picture, Editing, Visual Effects and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Reacting to the news on Twitter yesterday, Khumbanyiwa said: “District 9 was just nominated for an Oscar! Awesome! And so was UP.”
A prominent role in the film acted in South Africa was played by Khumbanyiwa. He was the gang leader with the nickname of Obasanjo, an underworld boss who is so obsessed with power and will stop at nothing to collect Alien weaponry hoping one day he will be able to use it.
He told Nyasa Times: “This is good for the local film industry and Africa as a whole, given the fact that the cast and crew was all local without any major name except the producer Peter Jackson.”
“It will definitely bring more exposure and open more doors, it will attract more investors to trust and support African projects. They now know that we as Africans are capable of delivering world class products, all we need is just an opportunity to prove ourselves.”
The star-studded 82nd Academy Awards will take place on Sunday, March 7.
The 33-year-old Malawian actor has also played a role in the new movie – Paradise Stop.
Born in Malawi’s old capital Zomba but now fully resides in South Africa, Khumbanyiwa has also previously starred in two movies, Jerusalema and Crime Safari, apart from TV commercials and some small parts in South African prime-time soaps like Generations and Scandal.
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