This archive report was first published on 28 November 2019.
Published on November 28, 2019, a widely shared video clip showed a chemical being used to allegedly lighten the skin of a black woman, sparking outrage and disgust.
However, a comment from a gentleman drew attention to the root cause of the issue: 'Africans will not stop bleaching because we don’t like our dark skin. We call very dark skinned Africans terrible names, while we show admiration for light skin.'
Pauline Ongaji, a member of a beauty group, shared her own experience of witnessing dark-skinned women being insulted and belittled by their peers, highlighting the harsh reality of colourism in Africa.
From billboards to beauty product advertisements, the media has perpetuated the notion that beauty is associated with light skin, leading many to invest in expensive skin-lightening procedures.
Colourism is not limited to Africa; it's a global issue, with Nigerian actresses admitting to bleaching their skin to secure more roles and Jamaican musicians believing that light skin increases their chances of success.
Even in Kenya, Lupita Nyong'o and a local TV anchor have spoken out about the struggles they faced due to their dark skin, emphasizing the need for a systematic overhaul to address colourism.
It's time for society to take responsibility and teach our girls and boys that beauty has nothing to do with skin colour, promoting a culture of inclusivity and acceptance.
