Lupita Nyong’o deserves more support from Africans.

            When I first watched ’12 Years a Slave’, I was startled by Lupita Nyong’o’s performance. In my opinion she definitely put herself in the shoes of Patsey, her character and it resulted in her winning an Oscar. But if most of the critics praised her performance in ’12 Years a Slave’, I observed flurry of critiques concerning her beauty.

        After The Academy Awards season, Lupita Nyong’o became one of the most popular actresses of the time, medias continued to pay attention to her and praised her for all her chic and glamour styles on the red carpets. From there, the name Lupita Nyong’o became a very attractive and lucrative trademark for companies. Indeed, the luxury make-up french brand Lancôme made her, Lupita Nyong’o a very dark skin "Negro", their New Face — a premiere in the make-up industry. Then followed up People magazine, who awarded her the title of the “World’s Most Beautiful Woman”.

        Those two titles received a lot of negative critiques, and especially from African mates (except Kenyans I guess). From what I read on Facebook and other sites, everybody did not see Lupita’s success as the rise of Africa and black beauty in all its shades as I did, actually some people felt like Hollywood was just trying to impose Lupita on them. 

— Some comments read of Facebook African pages: "Let's not exaggerate, stop imposing her to us, she is natural but not wow so don't exaggerate", "She's not pretty, she's not voluptuous... good actress? She only played in one movie", "Is it because she's really dark that we all have to adore her?" etc  —   But folks, don’t you know all new trends come from Hollywood? Generally, I am scandalized by the values the American showbiz promotes, but this time I found it useful and intelligent for once — yes I did!

Why?

         Even If Lupita is not the "real" most beautiful woman in the world (my Mama is, then  follows up all the other beautiful ladies of my family lol!)  She is the proof that no matter where you come from and what your skin color is (in this case referring to "black race" which in the novel 'Americanah' is analyzed as the lowest race in America), you can still have the opportunity to shine — and that is what Lupita said when she won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress (“No matter where you come from, your dreams are valid” ).

         If it was another black woman winning an Oscar then the title of most beautiful woman, I’d still be happy, but I won’t have the same enthusiasm about it. Because imagining somebody different means 99% cases, imagining a light skin and very beautiful that would be too superficial to be real.  — But that's just me?

         So after watching the movie ’12 Years a Slave’ the first time, I started searching for Lupita’s interviews on Youtube. What I discovered was a lady with impressing communication skills and  who was very eloquent. For me, it seems like she doesn't play the "Mrs. I’m Pretty like some celebs" — one that can blink 10 times in one minute. So from what I saw and heard, I believe that she’s still herself and she shows that who she is in public is the same as who she is backstage. She talks about real life problems without any complexity (her skin tone for example). And in my opinion, she should be a role model for the young girls because she is the proof to the world and especially to black people whose social ladder is graded according to their skin tone (from dark dark skin [like Lupita] to half-caste) that beauty is not only about physical appearance but also about who we are.

        In my opinion, if she received a lot of attention from the media, it’s because of the sensitivity and easiness with which she can pass on messages and emotions. And it applies to this quote from late Maya Angelou who said " people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”. Lupita Nyong’o found the method to attract America’s spotlights on her, and it's working. By doing so, she has imposed her short hair, dark skin and proper Kenyan accent to the showbiz and the world. And for all that, black people in general but Africans in particular should be thankful.

        Lupita Nyong’o should be considered as Africa’s pride by every African because she’s not only making her country sparkle, but also her continent. Because for once, it’s not an African girl who grew up in a desert or forest that is mediatized but it’s a well-educated woman from a good family that gets to be elevated to an honorable position. Meaning that FOR ONCE some westerners will start having the idea that there are not only poor people living in Africa like some media tend to present the continent most of the time.

        Also, another reason for Africans to be more proud and supportive is because, through Lupita’s success, the African culture gets to be valorized. She shows the world that there are things going on in Africa, that Africa is not only a land that can produce oils, gold etc… but it can also produce talented people.

So after reading this article, I hope that you’ll give her your support because we’re not only talking garlands and make-up here, but implicit politics and African/ black people emancipation.

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- B.Y