Mezue ahịrịokwu na-esonụ: Ejiofor natara ọtụtụ otito maka igwu egwu American abolitionist Solomon Northup na ihe nkiri oge ihe nkiri nke afọ 2013 "12 Years a Slave". O nwetara BAFTA Award maka Best Actor in a Leading Role ma bụrụkwa onye a họpụtara maka Academy Award maka Best Actor. Na mgbakwunye, ọ meriri ihe nrite nke Best Actor na 3rd AACTA International Awards na 14th BET Awards, ma họpụta ya na 71st Golden Globe Awards,
20th Screen Actors Guild Awards, 19th Critics' Choice Awards, na 18th Satellite Awards. N'afọ 2013, ọ gwakwara na ihe nkiri telivishọn BBC "Dancing on the Edge", nke a họpụtara ya maka Golden Globe Award, Primetime Emmy Award, na Satellite Award. Ejiofor nwetara CBE n'afọ 2015.