Rank: Chief Joined: 5/9/2007 Posts: 13,095
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By Eric Ng'eno Quote:Lupita and Oscar.
Let me tell you what I like about Lupita Nyong'o. I have hung around many privileged kids. The sort of people Dagitari Kigogoine calls "Children of rich" who live in "Nairobi of up". A number are truly amazing, industrious guys among them. On te other hand, many spend their lives leveraging their parents' or families' social and political capital. They make the most out of their surnames. They go about the place asking anyone and everyone, " Do you know who I am? My mom/ dad is......." You know them, the spoilt brats with formidable entoutrages, hogging all the attention in an otherwise tranquil gathering, wity the result that all fingers, approving and otherwise, point at them.
I like that in the wake of her fame, Lupita had to inform people that she is the daughter of a Kenyan politician. And people would go, "You're kidding me, right!". She served tea and doughnuts on the set of the Constant Gardener, just to absorb the artistic vibe in there, as her father announced to the world that he blows 2500 bob on lunch. She did not alight from muscular Prados with bodyguards around her, with a note 'From Hon Nyong'o's Desk' requesting placement for the daughter, your kind assistance will be highly appreciated, amen. She worked her ass off with cheerful self deprecation, and gave all it takes to be really good at what she does. She learnt the art and craft required to set her inborn talent off.
Perhaps she had to. How would a professor of political science and economics, also a politician, be of help to a budding film star? Similarly, Prof is the son of an Anglican Canon. Eh he. Ni kujipanga. Those saying thatt Lupita is a typical product of middle class privilege are hobbled by a punishing load of myopic, envious negativity.
Now we must bow at her feet.
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