Beverly Naya's Documentary Tackles Skin Bleaching in Nigeria

Nollywood actress Beverly Naya has shared her motivations for creating a Netflix documentary that addresses skin bleaching in Nigeria. Speaking on the One54 Podcast, she recounted her experiences with bullying as a teenager in London, which, while not specifically related to colorism, significantly impacted her self-esteem.

After moving to Nigeria, Naya initially aimed to launch an anti-bullying campaign but shifted her focus upon discovering alarming statistics about skin bleaching. According to the World Health Organization, 77% of Nigerian women use skin bleaching products, the highest rate in Africa.

Naya connected this statistic to a historical quote attributed to Willie Lynch, which discusses dividing Black people by skin complexion. She described the culture surrounding skin bleaching as a form of bullying that has not been adequately addressed.

The documentary aims to name this issue as colorism, raise awareness of the health risks associated with bleaching, and promote the acceptance of natural skin tones.