This archive report was first published on 11 October 2019.
Colourism is a pervasive issue in Africa, where the population is predominantly black and brown. Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o has spoken out about her experiences with colourism, describing it as 'the daughter of racism.'
According to Nyong'o, colourism is not limited to predominantly white spaces, but can also be found in African societies. She shared her personal experiences with colourism, including being told she was 'too dark' for television at an audition.
Colourism is a complex issue that affects not only individuals but also communities. Nyong'o explained that colourism is born of racism and is a prejudice among people of the same race. She noted that even in a predominantly black society like Kenya, Eurocentric standards of beauty can affect how people see themselves.
Yaba Blay, a professor at North Carolina Central University, has written extensively on colourism and its impact on African societies. She noted that skin bleaching became popular in Africa around the time of independence, as a way to gain power and privilege associated with whiteness.
Many African countries have begun to ban bleaching products, recognizing the harm caused by colourism. By acknowledging the colonial roots of colourism and promoting representation of African beauty standards in the media, society can slowly free itself from this vestigial of colonialism.
