Nollywood actress Beverly Naya has said Nigeria’s colourism problem reflects divisions rooted in slavery-era thinking. She said many Nigerians still view lighter skin as more desirable, a belief that continues to fuel skin bleaching.

Why Naya made Skin

Speaking in a recent interview with One54 Africa, Naya said she created her 2019 documentary Skin to challenge harmful beauty standards and promote self-acceptance.

“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,” she said.

Raising awareness about colourism

Naya explained that few people openly discussed colourism when she began work on the documentary. Yet, many dark-skinned people regularly faced offensive comments and discrimination.

“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 colourism, and they didn’t know what it was,” she added.

She said the documentary helped explain colourism and its effects on Nigerians.

“I was able to shine some light on colourism, 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.”

Impact of the documentary

Naya also reflected on the documentary’s release on Netflix. She noted that it arrived shortly after the death of George Floyd, when conversations about race gained global attention.

“It came out on Netflix literally two weeks after George Floyd died. So many people watched it, and the impact was insane,” she said.

The documentary features experts and everyday Nigerians. They discuss skin bleaching, colourism and the need to embrace natural beauty.