“Black girl, you are magic.”
In 2014 a Kenyan socialite opened up about her skin whitening procedure, social media was ablaze! This sparked a conversation on self-love, beauty, and the extent one can go to achieve what they define as beautiful. Was the skin whitening an indication that beauty can only be served light?
Skin bleaching, skin lightening, or skin whitening are used interchangeably but the result is the same; lighter skin. In Africa where we are born a variety of dark shades, the multi-million beauty and cosmetic industry have continuously pushed an aggressive agenda that “light is beautiful.” Further, there belief that white skin is associated with success and entitlement to certain benefits such as jobs has not made it easier for the African community.
Skin bleaching is done by men and women alike but women more so. It is estimated that 40% of African women bleach their skin (WHO, 2011). In Kenya, while the statistic is unclear, several women have bleached, are bleaching, or are contemplating bleaching their skin. Reports are made on Nairobi’s River Road being a location of illegal skin bleaching. Women are reported to buy the skin bleaching soaps, creams, and gels and a shot of the injection from as low as 500 Kenya Shillings (KES) to about 15,000 KES. Depending on the medium chosen the results may be quick or slow with minimal or no ‘black’ patches.
The pertinent question is why one would contemplate bleaching their skin? For some, it’s the attention that comes with light skin, the boost in esteem, enticing business deals, and the need to ‘keep’ their men are worth giving the procedure a try. Most of the products that accomplish true lightening are dangerous to long term health.
Several skin whitening products in the Kenyan market are unregulated and contain dangerous chemicals such as Alpha Hydroxyl Acids, mercury, hydroquinone, and powerful sterols which expose the user to numerous risks. The adverse health conditions range from the death of body tissues and serious infections (if injected), thinning of the skin, skin cancer, liver and kidney damage, to the skin developing wrinkles as a result of elasticity loss. Despite the ban on mercury-containing skin lightening products that are hazardous, they are still advertised online and locally available to the consumers.
It is important to have this conversation around skin colour and beauty both directly and indirectly. Young girls should be affirmed that their melanin-rich skin is beautiful. This will help them in their self-love journey. Also, the likes of Lupita Nyong’o and Yvonne Orji who have gone ahead to be celebrated for their craft and beauty are such role models and an indication that success transcends skin colour. Further, we need to be deliberate with the books or articles we read, podcasts, or music we listen to and movies we watch. They should speak to our divine nature encouraging and celebrating who we are born as. Joan Thatiah’s book ‘Things I Will Tell My Daughter’ and ‘Sulwe’ by Lupita Nyong’o are what every child needs to read to be aware that they are not just to own their skin but love it.
Remember that you are beautiful in whatever shade because beauty is not à la carte but buffet!
