Actress Beverly Naya has shared that her 2019 documentary Skin was produced to inspire Nigerians to appreciate their natural skin tone while opening up important discussions about colourism.
In a recent interview with One54 Africa, the actress explained that colourism and skin bleaching remain widespread concerns in Nigeria, as many people continue to associate lighter skin with beauty and social appeal.
“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.
The actress noted that when she began working on the project, colourism was rarely discussed openly, despite the fact that many dark-skinned individuals frequently endured derogatory remarks and discrimination.
She described the documentary as an educational tool designed to inform the public about the dangers of skin bleaching, the reality of colourism, and the importance of self-acceptance.
“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.
“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.”
Naya also reflected on the documentary’s release on Netflix, which came at a significant moment in global conversations about race.
“It came out on Netflix literally two weeks after George Floyd died. So many people watched it, and the impact was insane,” she said.