This archive report was first published on 24 October 2019.
Published on October 24, 2019, in London, Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o has made it clear that she has no intention of following in her father's footsteps into politics.
While Lupita was born into a family with a strong political background, her father being Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o, she has expressed her desire to focus on other areas of impact.
Speaking to Vanity Fair magazine, Lupita mentioned that she was born into a political family and that her father was fighting for what he believed in. However, she also told the London newspaper Metro that 'one politician per family is good enough! Knock on wood, please never.'
Despite her reservations about politics, Lupita is passionate about using her platform to transform the world. She believes that there are things worth changing and that part of living is about trying to make a positive impact.
One of the ways Lupita is doing this is through her work in film. Her experience in the all-black film Black Panther was significant, as it allowed her to see the African experience represented in a positive light. The film's success, which grossed $1.347 billion in box offices across the globe, was also a testament to the power of representation.
Speaking about Black Panther, Lupita said, 'In Black Panther, I felt that the African experience was allowed to exist aspirationally. I think it’s more common in America to hear of the struggle of black people than it is to hear of the success.'
Lupita has also been exploring her passion for African history through her documentary about Benin's Agoji 'amazons'. The Agoji were warrior women in the kingdom of Dahomey from the 17th to 19th centuries, and Lupita was intrigued by their story. She visited Benin to learn more about the Agoji and was overwhelmed by the experience.
Describing herself as 'overwhelmed' by the experience, Lupita said, 'every day is new information, epiphanies, discoveries.'
Aside from her work in film and documentary, Lupita has also written a children's book titled Sulwe, which was released this month. She has also appeared on BBC's prestige programme 'Newsnight', where she spoke about her experiences with colourism and racism.
