According to Wikipedia, Lupita Amondi Nyong’o is “an Academy Award-winning actress and music video director of dual Kenyan and Mexican citizenship. She identifies as Mexican-Kenyan.”
Lupita was born in Mexico City, Mexico,to Dorothy and Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o, a politician in Kenya. It is a Luo tradition to name a child after the events of the day, so her parents named her Lupita (a diminutive of “Guadalupe” Our Lady of Guadalupe). She is of completely Luo descent on both sides of her family, and is the second of six children. At the time of Lupita’s birth, he was a visiting lecturer in political science at El Colegio de Mexico in Mexico City, and her family had been living in Mexico for three years.
Lupita moved back to Kenya with her parents when she was less than one year old, when her father was appointed a professor at the University of Nairobi. She grew up primarily in Kenya, and describes her upbringing as “middle class, suburban”. At age 16, her parents sent her back to Mexico for seven months to learn Spanish. During those seven months, Nyong’o lived in Taxco, Mexico, and took classes at Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico’s Learning Center for Foreigners.
Lupita with her parents at the 86th Academy Awards
Let’s pause at that because the last part is what has been the main bone of contention for months now.
Thing is, since Lupita started becoming a huge deal in Hollywood, entertainment reporters as well as the online community in Kenya and Mexico have feuded over which country gets to “claim” her. This is partly because no Kenyan or Mexican has won the prestigious award before hence the great need to feel the sense of belong.
However, Lupita came out last Sunday to settle this matter once and for all according to El Mañana.
“I’m Mexican and Kenyan at the same time,” she said adding, “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.”
El Mañana further alleges that Lupita also declared that the award is hers and neither Kenya’s nor Mexico’s;
“This award belongs to me”
