Former Miss Kenya Lashes Out At KOT Arguing with Mike Sonko Over Lupita’s Hollywood Achievements
This morning, we did a piece about a certain KOT who faced off with Senator Mike Sonko on Lupita’s huge success in Hollywood. The article seems to have generated interest from former Kenyan beauty queen, Rachel Marete currently residing in Los Angeles.
She opines;
Some Kenyans and their crabs in a barrel mentality. So quick to put fellow Kenyans down but give merit to foreigners as if fellow Kenyans are less deserving of success. Give credit where it’s due. Lupita Nyong’o made it off her own merit! I repeat, she deserves every inch of the success she’s having right now whether you like it or not! Trust and believe, when it comes to foreigners, Hollywood does not care who you are wherever it is you come from. You gotta prove yourself and that she did. I know politicians flood the daily news back home but no one knows Kenyan politics in Hollywood nor do they care. No one cares that you are the biggest celebrity in whatever country you come from in Hollywood nor do they care if you are the greatest village chief’s daughter or son. Heck, you could be a rich president’s sole heir somewhere in Africa but here in Hollywood you have to start from scratch and prove yourself all over again.
For the rest of the world to be exalting her, it truly sucks to see some Kenyans so intent on taking her merit away from her. We need to borrow a leaf from countries like Nigeria and Tanzania (and many other African countries) that ride hard for their people when they are trying to make a difference. Lupita is the new it girl in Hollywood and is an inspiration to black girls all over the world! She beat out American actresses for that role and I bet you the casting directors didn’t say, “Hmm, let’s give it to her because her father is a senator in Kenya”. To just have been there auditioning at that level is a fit in itself! It seems these Kenyans who take to twitter (KOT, blah blah blah) and etc to bully people and bar their progress are just people who put a cap on their own maximum potential and get intimidated by Kenyans who dare to go for their dreams.
Even here in the diaspora, a determined, ambitious Kenyan finds themselves trying to stay away from large Kenyan crowds because they have been told whenever they tried to hang around them- that “we Kenyans don’t do that here. We do nursing or business or take jobs in retirement homes…” or “who does he/ she think she is to think she is good/special enough to make it in Hollywood, or start a tech company or become a Real Estate mogul or work in the White House?” etc. That inherent inferiority complex that many Kenyans harbor, that keeps them wanting to believe they can’t do more gets shaken up forcing them to fathom the fact that they can actually leave their comfort zones and do more. As if success is not meant for US but for others.
Boy, colonialism sure did do a number on some of us, huh? The effects are still being felt in 2014. That’s why Kenyans are quick to say there’s no acting talent at home then act surprised that a Kenyan actress that starred in “Shuga” actually made it. That’s why foreigners in Kenya have the audacity to open establishments that are racist towards indigenous Kenyans and yet continue to thrive without repercussions.
That’s why many will support the likes of Rick Ross, who until recently did not even know Africa was not a country, over say Nonini or Camp Mulla. That’s why when I’m at home and when it comes to the 10 maybe 20% of local music played on major radio stations, I hear a lot of Nigerian music and a lot less from our local Kenyan artists. Yes, I decided it all stems from a deep rooted inferiority complex. They will ogle an Angelina Jolie on a red carpet and then ask themselves what Lupita’s doing standing there. Bitterness and jealousy from their own refusal to leave their comfort zones. Then comes their audacity to actually send discouragement veiled as “witty” or “funny” tweets in hopes of trying to dim that light that shines in said Kenyan trying to do differently.
