Something is terribly wrong when a Nigerian girl like myself grows up craving white Barbie dolls. Girls all over Africa crave the same today, and this far from harmless. Fortunately Nigerians are starting to produce dolls that look like us.
Arts and Culture
Arts and Culture Lupita Nyong’o shout out on new Jay-Z track
It’s not every day that you hear a 31 year-old Kenyan woman’s name in the US’s mainstream hip hop airwaves – let alone from a rapper like Jay-Z. Lupita Nyong’o, the award-winning actress, accomplished this feat in a new track […]
Arts and Culture Suddenly, being African is cool
Lupita Nyong’o, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Idris Elba and Chimamanda Adichie don’t resemble images of Africans that Americans are used to seeing. The cumulative effect of more such stars will adjust stereotypes and leave permanent change.
Arts and Culture “Stick to dating within your own culture!”
Many question the wisdom of interracial dating, but actually, we seem to have an equally big problem with dating between one African culture and another. Or rather, we might date outside our own culture but when it comes to marriage we are advised to stick with “our own”.
Arts and Culture Lupita Nyong’o acceptance speech at Essence Black Women Awards
“I remember a time when I too felt unbeautiful. I put on the TV and only saw pale skin, I got teased and taunted about my night-shaded skin”
Arts and Culture Why elders deserve only earned respect
One of the things our cultures have in common is their reverence for elders. But is merely being around for a long time enough? Shouldn’t respect be earned? Not all elders are wise. Should we also defer to an elder known to be ignorant, misogynistic and cruel?
Arts and Culture Yoruba deities as movie superheroes
“Oya: Rise of the Orisha” is an upcoming feature film that blends the Western superhero genre with Yoruba mythology. The film garnered internet attention following their Indiegogo crowd-funding campaign.
Arts and Culture Photos for social change in Mozambique
African photography is on the rise. From street to art photography, conceptual and documentary to fashion shoots, home-grown photographers are increasingly showing the world what they see through the lens (and not only in Africa’s Francophone countries).
![Who taught you to hate your [dark] skin?](https://thisisafrica.me/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Ajuma-Nasenyana-760-x-500-660x445.jpg)
Arts and Culture Who taught you to hate your [dark] skin?
Skin-lightening/bleaching is a problem, but it’s only a sign of much deeper inter-related issues: self-hatred, a race-based identity crisis, and the internalisation of Western-created cultural ideas that are inimical to the mental health of black people.