Lupita Nyong'o Launches Podcast to Embrace Her African Heritage

Lupita Nyong’o has launched her podcast, "Mind Your Own," where she shares insights about her African heritage and its impact on her career. In the first episode, the Oscar-winning actress opened up about her complicated relationship with her accent. Initially, she felt her authentic voice would limit her opportunities in Hollywood, so she adopted an American accent, which left her feeling disconnected from her roots.

Nyong’o reflected on her journey, noting that while she embraced her African accent during her time at Hampshire College, her experience changed when she attended Yale School of Drama. There, she focused on mastering her American accent, believing it would enhance her chances in the industry. She was motivated by the lack of representation for African accents in film.

Her efforts were acknowledged when a casting director expressed surprise at her Kenyan background, not realizing she had an accent. However, this realization brought mixed emotions. Nyong’o felt both joy and disappointment for having distanced herself from her heritage. Shortly after, she informed her publicists that she wanted to reclaim her original accent before promoting "12 Years a Slave," her breakout film. She emphasized that being African is enough and highlighted that her publicists had never heard her speak with her Kenyan accent.

Nyong’o’s mother supported her decision, affirming that her accent represents her life experiences. This encouragement gave Nyong’o comfort in her identity, leading her to refer to her accent as "Lupita," a term of ownership.

Since then, she has used her unique voice in various roles, including Maz Kanata in the "Star Wars" franchise and in "The Wild Robot." Her upcoming film, also titled "The Wild Robot," features notable actors like Pedro Pascal and Mark Hamill, and is set to release on September 27.

Born in Mexico and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, Nyong’o has lived in the United States for two decades. In her podcast, she expressed the importance of feeling comfortable with her voice, aiming to connect with other Africans navigating similar experiences of homesickness and identity.

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