Lupita with her mother and father.
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Ever since Lupita Nyong'o started getting big,
the entertainment pages of Kenya and Mexico have feuded over which
country gets to "claim" her. Last night, Lupita put the debate to rest.
"I'm Mexican and Kenyan at the same time," she said, according to El Mañana.
"I've seen the quarrels over my nationality, but I'm Kenyan and Mexican
at the same time. So again, I am Mexican-Kenyan and I am fascinated by
carne asada tacos."
So there you have it. And yet, Milenio a Mexico City-based paper, noted that "Mexican Lupita Nyong'o" won the Best Supporting Actress award and that she "was
born in 1983 in Mexico City, but her parents are of Kenyan origin. The
actress grew up in Kenya, but at age 16 her parents sent her to Mexico
to learn Spanish." Her parents are Kenyan, but she's Mexican. Of course,
Kenya's press has been staking its claim on her for months. In
January, the Daily Standard produced a video
that described the "debate" over her nationality as if it were a
diplomacy issue. The fact that she was born in Mexico is a big deal.
This little tidbit, fueled by
foreign reports, one of which specifically referred to Lupita as a
Mexican actress have led to heated discussions online, begging the
question: Who owns Lupita?
...This is not the first time that Kenya has discovered a link with a famous person, only to be forced to back down.
The last time was when Barack Obama, whose father was Kenyan, ran for president.
Top three stories on Kenya's The Nation.
Obviously,
no one "owns" her, and it doesn't matter whether she's Kenyan, Mexican,
both or neither — unless she's the first person from your country to
win an Academy Award. Kisumu county Governor Jack Ranguma told the Kenyan Daily Standard
that her win had put them on the map. “This is a win for Kenya and for
Africa as well, being the first Kenyan to be nominated and to win an
Oscar Award. It has put Kisumu and Kenya on the World map,” said
Ranguma. Kenya's president Uhuru Kenyatta congratulated her as well, with “I
join millions of Kenyans and worldwide fans to congratulate and support
Lupita Nyong’o as she confronts one of the biggest nights in her career
so far." As we explained earlier,
her nomination was a big, big deal in Kenya that goes beyond her.
Whether she wants to or not, for some she represents Western media
taking an interest in African culture that stems beyond violence,
disease, and death. Lupita winning the Oscar is the only international,
happy, pop culture story coming out of Kenya right now, but only if you
accept that Kenya can take credit for her win.
And it's possible that pressure has been weighing on her. "This award belongs to me," she said according to El Mañana.
1. Why her brother stickin' his tongue out like that? 2. Why was Bradley Cooper so thirsty to hold the damn camera!?! 3. And lastly, why Angie waving in a pictures!?!?!
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