According to Beverly Naya, the purpose of her 2019 documentary “Skin” was to inspire Nigerians to accept their natural skin tone and start much-needed discussions about colorism.
Naya stated in a recent interview with One54 Africa that colorism and skin bleaching are still pervasive problems in Nigeria, where many people still think lighter skin is more attractive.
“Seventy-seven per cent of Nigerian women bleach their skin. When you think about it, it takes you back to slavery because we are still being divided. There is this hierarchy of beauty where the lighter you are, the better.”
“People could look at a dark person and say, ‘Blackie,’ and it was derogatory and offensive, but there was nothing to define what that act was. It was colorism, and they didn’t know what it was,” she added.
“I was able to shine some light on colorism, what it is and how it is affecting Nigerians. The whole idea was just to inspire people to love the complexion they are in and appreciate themselves for who they are.”
“It came out on Netflix literally two weeks after George Floyd died. So many people watched it and the impact was insane.”
Colorism should never be a barrier that divides us. Whether you are dark or fair, our true strength lies in our unity and diversity. We are all part of the same human family, and embracing each other’s unique beauty fosters understanding, acceptance, and progress. Let us stand together, beyond skin deep differences, and celebrate the richness that our varied shades bring to our society.
