Black Girl Magic.
The three words that describe Lupita Amondi Nyong’o. Remember her aura at the 2014 Oscars? We saw that Black Girl Magic on a stage facing a crowd of award-winning entertainers, charismatic and compelling. For some, the thought of a public speech would cause jitters but when you’re about to receive your first Oscar, let’s just say you’d probably suppress the anxiety and embody a new confidence. After all, you’ve earned it.
From a tender age, Lupita Nyong’o wanted to be a performer. Her journey began in theatre and her first feature was in Phoenix Player’s “Romeo and Juliet” play. She was fourteen years old at the time and a student at Rusinga School in Nairobi. Lupita extended her passion beyond high school when she enrolled at Hampshire College, where she majored in Film and Theatre Studies. It was a tough practical pursuit, but an adamant Lupita was ready to take on the global film industry. She inched even closer to the screen when she debuted as a production assistant, working behind the cameras but still envisioning where she wanted to be. This focus, coupled with a positive attitude, allowed Lupita to work her way to a role and script.
Lupita made her premiere on screen in 2008 when she landed a character role in a short film titled ‘East River’. After filming in New York for months, she returned home inspired to expand her experience both on- and off-set. She wrote and directed her first documentary, ‘In My Genes’ – a powerful and riveting story that took her audience through living with albinism. While at home, Lupita also starred as one of the main characters in an African-inspired series titled ‘Shuga’.
This experience piqued her interest in knowing more and immersing herself deeper into the entertainment industry, and Lupita enrolled for her Masters at Yale School of Drama. While there in 2012 she was awarded as one of the students with the most outstanding acting ability.
A year later, she had auditioned for and subsequently landed the role of Patsey in Steve McQueen’s historical drama, 12 Years a Slave. Her captivating acting came to the fore in the film and in 2014, Lupita was awarded an Oscar for The Best Supporting Actress by The Academy. She became the first Kenyan to win the film industry’s most prestigious prize, making a timeless speech to go with it:
“When I look down at this golden statue, may it remind me and every little child that no matter where you’re from, your dreams are valid.”
Thank you Lupita, for your unmistakable showcase of #KeExcellence