The Academy Awards are one of the most high-profile and eagerly anticipated events in the global entertainment calendar, held annually to honour excellence in filmmaking.
Since its debut in 1929, the Oscar statuette has grown from a modest dinner-time trophy into the most recognisable symbol of cinematic achievement in the world.
According to the official Oscars website, the award is formally known as the Academy Award of Merit. However, it is far more widely recognised by its famous nickname, Oscar.
The name is believed to have originated when Academy librarian Margaret Herrick remarked that the statuette resembled her uncle, Oscar. The nickname quickly caught on and was officially adopted by the Academy in 1939.
“While the origins of the moniker aren’t clear, a popular story has it that upon seeing the trophy for the first time, Academy librarian (and eventual executive director) Margaret Herrick remarked that it resembled her Uncle Oscar. The Academy didn’t adopt the nickname officially until 1939, but it was widely known enough by 1934 that Hollywood columnist Sidney Skolsky used it in a piece referring to Katharine Hepburn’s first Best Actress win,” the site writes.
Over the decades, the Oscar has become a global benchmark for cinematic excellence, with winners celebrated across continents, including Kenya.
In 2014, Kenyan-born actress Lupita Nyong’o made history at the 86th Academy Awards when she won Best Supporting Actress for her role as Patsey in 12 Years a Slave.
Her win marked a major milestone, making her the first Kenyan to receive an Academy Award and placing Kenya firmly on the global film map.
The organisation behind the awards, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), was founded on May 11, 1927. It was established in Los Angeles by leading figures in the film industry who sought to promote and celebrate artistic and technical excellence in cinema.
Among its founders were MGM studio head Louis B. Mayer, actors Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford, director Cecil B. DeMille, and filmmaker Frank Capra, among others.
Two years later, in 1929, the Academy hosted the first-ever awards ceremony, recognising outstanding films and performances from 1927 and 1928.
The Oscar statuette itself has an origin story dating back to 1927, shortly after the Academy’s formation.
During a goal-setting dinner at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, the founders agreed on creating a physical symbol to inspire excellence within the film industry.
MGM art director Cedric Gibbons sketched the iconic design in 1928, depicting a knight holding a crusader’s sword while standing on a film reel.
The reel symbolised the Academy’s original branches: actors, directors, producers, technicians and writers. The final sculpting was completed by renowned Los Angeles-based sculptor George Stanley.
Today, the Oscar statuette remains a striking piece of craftsmanship. It stands 13.5 inches tall and weighs approximately 8.5 pounds.
Although it appears to be solid gold, the statuette is actually made of solid bronze and finished with a 24-karat gold plating that gives it its signature shine.
“Due to a metal shortage during World War II, Oscars were made of painted plaster for three years. Following the war, the Academy invited recipients to redeem the plaster figures for gold-plated metal ones,” the site writes.
Since the first ceremony, more than 3,000 Oscar statuettes have been awarded, and they continue to be presented each year as enduring symbols of cinematic excellence, inspiring filmmakers around the world, including those from Africa and Kenya.