WeeklySA_AdminHONOUR: The Academy’s latest invitees also include six African creatives, among them Nigerian filmmaker and actor Akin Omoto…
By Thami Kwazi
From Wakanda’s wise king to international film authority, Kani’s latest milestone cements his legacy on the world stage.
Celebrated actor, director, and playwright Dr John Kani has added another remarkable achievement to his decorated career. The veteran star, best known globally for his role as King T’Chaka in Black Panther and Disney’s Rafiki on Disney’s Mufasa, has been invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voting body, the exclusive group responsible for selecting Oscar winners.
This honour places Kani among the few South Africans who have entered the Academy’s inner circle, a sign of how African voices are increasingly shaping global cinematic narratives.
Kani joins iconic film producer Anant Singh, known for Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, as the only South African currently in the Academy’s elite voting membership. Together, they represent the country’s influence on world cinema, from storytelling rooted in African history projects that command global box-office success.
Kani isn’t alone in this historic moment. The Academy’s latest invitees also include six African creatives, among them Nigerian filmmaker and actor Akin Omoto, celebrated for his directing work on Rise and Vaya.
Showcasing how the continent’s storytellers are carving out an undeniable space in Hollywood’s most prestigious institution.
Kani himself has always advocated for African stories told by Africans. His plays, including Nothing but the Truth and Kunene and the King, continue to highlight themes of identity, justice, and cultural pride. His inclusion in the Oscars voting body reinforces that African voices are no longer peripheral but central to the global cinematic conversation
From embodying the regal wisdom of Wakanda’s King T’Chaka to championing South Africa’s arts scene for decades, John Kani has become a beacon of African excellence.
His presence in the Academy means African cinema has a stronger voice in deciding which films are honoured on the biggest stage of them all.
As the world of film evolves, the timing couldn’t be better. With African music, fashion, and television already influencing global culture, cinema’s next great wave is unmistakably African, and Kani is helping to lead it.
Meanwhile the academy announced on Wednesday that it has voted 14 students as winners of the 52nd Student Academy Awards competition. This year, the Student Academy Awards competition received 3 127 entries from 988 colleges and universities worldwide. The 2025 winners join the ranks of such past Student Academy Award® winners as Patricia Cardoso, Pete Docter, Spike Lee, Patricia Riggen and Robert Zemeckis.
The presentation ceremony for the annual international student film awards will be held on October 6. It will take place this year at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York City during the New York Film Festival, in partnership with Rolex.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is home to a global membership of more than 11 000 of the most accomplished film industry artists and leaders. The Academy recognises and celebrates all aspects of the arts and sciences of moviemaking through renowned awards for cinematic achievement, including the Oscars.
With the largest film-related collection in the world, the Academy is a leader in the fields of conservation, preservation and exhibition of film-related objects and materials. Through its Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, the Academy presents powerful exhibitions, screenings and programs about cinema’s past, present, and future.
The Academy also inspires young artists and creates opportunities for underrepresented communities to engage with the film world. Across all initiatives, the Academy connects global audiences – its members, the film industry, and film fans – through their shared passion for making and watching films. – Fullview/Weekly SA Mirror
