Lupita makes history as the first Kenyan to win an Oscar

By Rachael Odhiambo (@RachaelOdhiambo)

Two days after her birthday, Lupita Nyong’o has become the first Kenyan ever to win an Oscar for her supporting role in the movie 12 Years a Slave.

In a tearful acceptance speech, Lupita thanked all her fellow actors and actresses and her family. “When I look down at this golden statue, may it remind me and every little child that no matter where you’re from, your dreams are valid," she finished off.

Lupita wowed on the red carpet wearing a classy Nairobi Blue Prada gown. She used the Nairobi Blue colour tag because the blue colour reminded her of Nairobi. The hashtag #NairobiBlue trended on Twitter for a while after that.

Meanwhile her brother, made a debut in the celebrity world by being part of what could be the most retweeted photo so far beating Obama's photo with Michelle. The photo has been retweeted 800,000 times as of the last time we checked. When the host for the night, Ellen Degeneres took a selfie with several A-list celebrities including Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt, Peter Nyong’o Jr was right in the middle of it.

In what has been described as the best Oscar show so far, the usually uptight and proper event stepped it up by making it different. With the humor of Ellen Degeneres, selfies of celebrities, Pizza delivery with Brad Pitt even distributing the napkins and plastic plates, this show kept many glued while waiting for more surprises.

Lupita had been nominated for her role as Best Actress in a Supporting Role for the 86^th Oscar Awards that went down last night at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatres in Beverly Hills.

Lupita clinched the award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role to beat her competitors Jennifer Lawrence, Sally Hawkins, Julia Roberts and June Squibb.

An overwhelmed Lupita thanked all those who had played a key in the making of the movie and to the support that she had received.

The 31 year old has been gracing red carpets and winning awards after awards for her role in 12 Years a Slave. She has won several awards for her role as Best Supporting Actress with the Film Independent Spirit Awards that she won on Saturday coinciding with her birthday.

Besides winning awards for her role, Lupita was voted the best dressed actress in the Golden Globes Awards and the Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Lupita who was born in Mexico before her parents relocated back to Kenya, came to the limelight when she acted in the movie Shuga besides being featured in other short films.

In the movie 12 Years a Slave, Lupita acts as Patsey, a slave girl who is physically and sexually abused by her owner. She acts alongside Chiwetel Ejiofor, who is duped, shipped and sold into slavery. The movie revolves around the period of slavery in the US and brings to light the hardships black people went through.

Besides 12 Years a Slave, Lupita has also featured in the French-American movie Non Stop that is set to premiere soon. Currently, she resides in Brooklyn, New York.

Click below to listen to her moving acceptance speech.