Not all African women believe 'black is beautiful' and that’s OK - by Sede Alonge | Welcome to Linda Ikeji's Blog

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Sunday 20 July 2014

Not all African women believe 'black is beautiful' and that’s OK - by Sede Alonge

I came across a somewhat controversial article on skin bleaching by African women in the UK Telegraph, written by a Nigerian writer and lawyer, Sede Alonge, and I thought to bring it here so we can read and discuss. Sola makes a case for women who bleach for why they shouldn't be made to feel like they are betraying their race for wanting to change their skin colour. Read below...
Toning. Lightening. Brightening. Whitening. While the marketing slogans promoting skin enhancement in Africa might be varied, the underlying effects are pretty identical. Although I do not use skin lightening products, I live in Nigeria where millions of women do.
On offer in my local shops are a myriad of products designed to make dark skin lighter: Kojic acid soaps, fade creams, hydroquinone creams, whitening shower gels made from goat milk and for the more determined: skin lightening injections. Continue...
Sede Alonge
So when last month Vera Sidika (pictured above), a popular Kenyan model and socialite, publicly admitted to spending tons of money bleaching her skin, she added fuel to an already smoking hot fire. Just one admission was enough to re-ignite the fierce debate about Africans’s perception of beauty.
A bullish Sidika says she is proud of the way she looks and thinks African societies are hypocritical on this thorny issue. But her honesty roused the ire of many social media users across the continent.

Passions inevitably run high among Africans whenever someone brings into play racial issues. On the topic of skin whitening, emotionally charged slogans such as “black is beautiful” are often employed in an attempt to make women like Sidika feel as if they are somehow betraying their race. Such women are then accused of having inferiority complexes towards white people.

In Nigeria, where 77 per cent of women use skin lightening products, according to a recent World Health Organisation report, the mainstream African commentariat, which is mostly male-dominated, projects a strong bias against the practice. I myself am a dark skinned Nigerian woman who does not use whitening creams or soaps, but I feel that while there are valid health concerns as to the side-effects of skin lightening products, it should remain an individual's prerogative to be who or what they want to be.

Yes, black is beautiful, but so also is white, brown, yellow and the many shades in between.

When white people use tanning lotions, solariums and other methods to darken their skin, it is treated as par for the course and other white people don't feel the need to remind them that “white is beautiful”. In fact, such a statement would likely be regarded as racist by members of other races.

Yes, I understand that there was a specific historical context in the US and elsewhere which, at the time, necessitated the use of the “black is beautiful” slogan in order to boost black people’s sense of self-worth and identity, but this is 2014 and we should have gotten beyond that by now. Or are self-affirming slogans going to be needed by black people forever?

People’s desire to have a particular skin tone, be it a darker or lighter one, stems from them wanting to be more attractive and sometimes for others to take notice. And more often than not, in the case of an individual who has undergone skin lightening here in Africa, it works. The critics might be unwilling to concede this publicly, but the harsh truth is that in Africa, lighter skinned girls do get more attention and are more appreciated than darker skinned women.

It is not unusual to often hear Nigerian men say things like: “Oh, I met this beautiful girl the other day, she had a great body…and she was fair in complexion.” But then these same men would hypocritically voice outrage if a Nigerian woman, especially one in the public eye, openly admitted to bleaching her skin. If skin tone didn’t matter at all to Nigerian men, skin lightening creams and soaps wouldn’t be flying off the shelves over here as they are right now. In Nigerian music videos too, one can notice a glaring preference for lighter skinned females. The niggling suspicion remains that my society is more self delusional on questions of identity and its perception of beauty than it cares to admit.

Physical attraction is instinctive and lighter skinned women are bound to attract more attention from men in a dark skinned society such as Nigeria – just like darker skinned people do in predominantly white societies. Such interest does not have to be due to any sort of complex and is often simply mere curiosity of the different.

Skin lightening should not be automatically regarded as an individual’s outright rejection of their race. If a woman feels that lightening her skin will make her prettier or more confident, then society should let her be and not impose itself as judge and jury on her concept of beauty. It is high-time Africans stop being hysterical and overly-defensive about issues of their self worth and identity. 

Sede Alonge is a Nigerian writer, photographer and lawyer.

125 comments:

Her Excellency said...

Excellent write up

Anonymous said...

Its okay #bright bravo#

Anonymous said...

Okay

Anonymous said...

God bless u on this, Infact my friends boyfriend had to tell her to lighten her Skin, Men love it but they keep pretending!

Unknown said...

Black is beautiful always

Anonymous said...

Black is beautiful. Pretex4luv@yahoo.com

www.glowyshoes.com said...

Black is beautiful anytym anyday

Pls visit my shoe blog

www.glowysofiscated.blogspot.com

Jules said...

She's very right! ppl need to stop judging ladies who use these products...it's their skin! Ps:I'm naturally light skinned!

Unknown said...

True talk

Anonymous said...

Her fucking problem. Opeyemi@gmail.com

Unknown said...

It all boils down to self esteem, self confidence, and self happiness, do wat makes u happy, if u feel happy being light skinned, its ok!! If u love being dark-skinned, its still ok!! D only thing bout bleaching is wen d bleacher gets older, side effects of bleaching starts manifesting!! And d irony of it all is, dey become dark again at old age

Anonymous said...

This is one of the best properly written and thought out article ever....nice job Miss Sede....FYI for those who feel that their opinion on my comment matters..news update it doesn't so save your thumb some energy!

Steveosky 4 Real. said...

All I can say is "black is beautiful" !!!

Anonymous said...

Hmmmmm #God is watching#

Unknown said...

I look prettier wen I tone. Fair is lovely

Anonymous said...

See as she look like spoilt shit
Happy sunday guys
maryjones129c@gmail.com

Unknown said...

She has spken well....I mean anyone has d right to do whatever she or he pleases wit d skin. If na shit u wan rub ohoo! Kerosene! Top gel or acid and wat have u? Wen skin cancer calls, d person is still on his on her own. So pple shud let dem be.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful write up Sede, Nigerians are hypocrites. Hausa men, Igbo men and Yoruba men all love light skinned women. Even that bride price app had more scores for light skinned then they awarded a high score for Lupita to keep off the black is beautiful voltrons. Keep deceiving yourselves Nigerians, the ones hurling insults at the bleachers are the ones with the self esteem issues.

Anonymous said...

She has said it all! Only an ignorant illiterate will throw stones at her for this well researched write up.

Unknown said...

black is beauty any where any day and any time ...

CHERRY said...

Okay oh she try.

Sean Manuel said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Amarachukwu. said...

Well,that's own opinion,to me bleaching is not good,n there is a difference btw bleaching n lightening...

Anonymous said...

Well written 👍👍

Anonymous said...

It's not ok my dear Sola... It is shameful. The skin color of africans goes a long way in emphasizing our identity... if bleaching was a fashion stunt, it wouldn't be such a big deal... it says a lot about the pride for or of that identity.

Anonymous said...

Made reasonable points, but how do you protect children whose ability to make sound judgement on their own from being bombarded with mostly light-skinned images on light-skinned media. John H Johnson founded Johnson Publishing Company for a reason you know. In as much as I agree that the struggle should continue in a less subtle manner than before, you shouldn't make the mistake of being too comfortable thinking it's over; far from over.

Unknown said...

I agree with everytin she has said..i think if I decide to lighten my skin, that should be my buisness and nobody else's

Anonymous said...

Pls post d comments on ur other posts abegi. I've refreshed 4 like 10times already. D comments add some spice! Pls release dem sharply.

ary said...

There are creams to change black to white, why aren't there creams to change black to white? Have y'all thought about it? They tan which is temporal, but why isn't there a cream that makes white people black?

Unknown said...

Black is beauty,white is attraction#emmastreams12@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Bleach or no bleach wateva anyone decides to do wit their skin is their wahala..#EA

Anonymous said...

Oh well I feel discolouring ur skin or mutating any part of ur body is jst a way of saying 'God u dint do a good job' God has a reasn for giving u a black or light skin, big or small boobs and ass,making u tall or short..so stay thnkful and pure.. Mo_Hot

Naughtybunny said...

Hmmm. Truth be told, lots of men in Nigeria prefer a light skinned woma (how ever nasty or mean she is) than a dark skinned girl (how ever nice and homey) she is. Cuz personlly, I knw a girl in school who is Shuwa Arab nd has slept with half of the guys in school, yet she's on d Dp of half of the other guys who can't date her. You can't tell a wwoman how she should feel about her skin or body when everything on tv on d run way doesn't look like her, like it or not (nd unfortunately) we. R ruled nd controlled by some of these things on tv even when we try not to admit it. So here's my take on these thing... Beauty is skin deep, if u don't feel it on d inside it doesn't show on d outside. If u don't feel ur black on d inside, no make up will make u feel happy. And if u feel a little cream will make u more wanted pls feel free as long as deep within you know it'll make u feel more beautiful hence more acceptable. Everyone fights dier battle alone, so they should be allowed to chose the weapon in which they feel mostly safe. With. Whether is brazillian hair, toning cream, contact lens, heel highs or a new phone. They should be the one's to chose how they live their life. Am black, I don't bleach (not that I hvnt thot about it). But I've never braid with my hair, I don't think my boyfrnd has ever seen my real hair nd he probably won't but it doesn't mean I don't love my hair, it jst prefer it longer in a nice long braid or a weave..

Anonymous said...

Ummm I love light skin,is so beautiful marydanladi180@gmail.com

mo_hot said...

mutating any part of ur body is jst a way of saying 'God u dint do a good job' God has a reasn for giving u a black or light skin, big or small boobs and ass,making u tall or short..so stay thnkful and pure.. Mo_Hot

Anonymous said...

while there are valid health
concerns as to the side-effects of skin lightening
products, it should remain an individual's
prerogative to be who or what they want to be.

Cooldavoe@yahoo.co

Anonymous said...

And skin lightening is now the pressing issue? While she's right in some ways she maybe wrong by saying guys prefer lighter skinned girls. I have a really really dark "girl -friend" and her skin is nice. Most guys say that aleast :D But then she might be right again cos some black men can hate black women eeeehhhhh----C21

Anonymous said...

Lovely article. In many aspects she is right. We are hypocrites, I hear my boyfriends friends say oh wow, his girl is pretty and FAIR and yet these same guys will blast girls who use lightening creams. These girls see you pick the fairer girls and you expect them not to bleach? However as a doctor, I cannot advocate for these creams, soaps whatever because of the health implications- skin cancers, kidney failure and a lot more illnesses.
Sandra

Anonymous said...

Linda abeg do you expect me to read all that........black is forever beautiful....


XDON D DON

joy Egbunu said...

Sooooo not a fan of skin lightening products! Me luv me black n shiny skin!!

Anonymous said...

She's kinda ryt, luk @ d jst concluded MBGN most of d girls r fair girls, y won't a black girl go nd bleach cos she wnts to go for d contest....... Smh abeg wen we start appreciatin wat we v d beta( sum guys even lyk deir bleachin babes too( bt I no support bleachn sha)

Anonymous said...

She be dudu turn white....you wan look like an half cast now ur body don cast..,sun shine you no fit walk pass ,haaaa yawa don gas
KILODE TI EN BORA
VICTOR

Anonymous said...

" Skin lightening should not be automatically regarded as an individual’s outright rejection of their race.".... GBAM! Before you start shitting on yourself, you better read the whole thing welll and understand her point. Because I know how you LIB's are set up... you read to question and not to listen and understand her point. And please save the silly questions like "Can you allow your child bleach" ? "Why can't you bleach" ? "SO you are supporting bleaching or what" ?.... Please NONE of that today. Let's respect ourselves this Sunday..Read and understand.

Anonymous said...

Exactly. One's chosen skin color is their choice. Nigerians should stop this hypocrisy. It's a cave mans mentality.

belinda said...

She is so ryt. We are so hypocritical. We say dnt use d N* word but na only black people dey use am. In all d nigerian music videos na only light skinned girls with fake ass boobs nd butt nd d guys like it. Dat ladies go through all dese stuff is cos of d pressure put on by d men. If u are natural no fake extension no fake ass or boob no guy ll talk to u. Dey ll be busy ogling girls who look like witches, d kind u see on Timaya, Iyanya, Wizkid videos. Nd so every girl will wnt to be like dem, cos dats wat d guys dey like are after. Bt dey ll be d first to condemn you ooo. D main example are the Nigerian beauty pagents, if you are dark skinned den dnt waste tym. Calendars, memos, beauty mags, celebrities dey all use nd celebrate d fair skinned

Anonymous said...

I so much love this article! I'm dark though but looking for the right cream to enhance my skin colour...

Anonymous said...

The bible condemns altering your body,it's alien to our society and we reject it. It's in the name of self confidence and freedom of expression that we have gay people and terrorist everywhere today.....people just make a reason to take simplicity out of this world.

jbankzE said...

If d cream is gud y is she nt usin t? I lik natural fair galz as frds thou coz am chocolate bt is a No No fr da blenchin 1c

~@iamJbankz Olamide's PA~

Anonymous said...

Exactly, point is people notice something only cos it's different from d norm. Bottom line, be who u want to be and neva do it cos u feel pressured, do it bcos u are sure it'll make u happier.

Unknown said...

I couldn't agree more.

Anonymous said...

It's no wonder she has so many jobs in addition to being a lawyer. She's not a critical thinker and unsuccessful at her primary profession. Skin bleaching is rooted in white supremacy and the colorist system brought over to Africa by colonialists. All these years after independence, instead of banishing the practice, blacks have adopted it themselves to discriminate against their own. It shows the deep damage colonialism inflicted on the black psyche. The question should be on how to uproot such thinking so that all black is beautiful to blacks.

EVA said...

Why una use this black girl there with that forehead,why una nor use a pretty black face?

Unknown said...

Men r 2 b blame 4 all ds bleaching tinz and nt d bleachers....cos d lighter skinned women r more attractive to dem

Daily diet tv said...

When i say women get FISH BRAIN.. dem go say i don miss-yarn. Ok o





































~BADOO OF COVENTRY

Anonymous said...

With all been said,its a clear case of inferiority complete because I see no reason why a beautiful black man/woman would change his/her skin tone...well as you said,if it will make them feel more prettier and confident then so be it but still everybody should be happy the way he/she was created no amount of low self esteem should get in his/her way...

Unknown said...

Very well said!

Anonymous said...

i like this woman, she hit d nail right on the head, it's only but a matter of choice, if you dont like it dont do it.. let the people that like it do it..nigeria has the highest number of hypocrites,the same girls that will tell you bleaching is bad today will be the same ones bleaching 2moro..the same guys that will tell you they love dark skinned girls are the ones that dates light skinned girls. as for me i love my girlfriend light... i only date light girls.

Anonymous said...

I understand her. ladies with natural hair also make others feel bad

Unknown said...

I haven't even finished reading it but I agree with her 100% I don't bleach but I agree with her

Anonymous said...

Dis is d 2nd best article of the month! Very well said. M not a fan of bleaching buh I do agree with her 100%. Oyindamolaharvey@yahoo.com

DOBY DOBY said...

Hia.. lighter skinned women get more attraction dan dark ladies. . Evn our celebrities most of dem marry light skinned. . D problem with nug is dat we dnt appreciate wat we av.. we always wan to b lyk OYIBO.. i dnt support bleaching

Anonymous said...

Please tell them o..Bleaching is a choice, yes it has health implications but so does smoking and yet people have not been crucified for it

Unknown said...

Ok!

Unknown said...

She said it all, it's a thing of choice... Sentiments shared

g said...

Most Nigerians are too hypocritical..

Anonymous said...

But linda , your sis de bleach too, hope she knos this

Anonymous said...

So true even all these competitions, mbgn etc, all yellow girls, dose ones will go for m$iss world now and have other people wondering "Ahan aren't Nigerians dark skinned" but then again it's none of my business. They should let the bleachers be

Anonymous said...

So true even all these competitions, mbgn etc, all yellow girls, dose ones will go for m$iss world now and have other people wondering "Ahan aren't Nigerians dark skinned" but then again it's none of my business. They should let the bleachers be

Anonymous said...

I respect her opinion but I disagree to the notion that tanning (which can also cause cancer) is comparable to bleaching.
Furthermore why is everything "white" good while everything "black" isn't. It pretty much applies to everything we do. We need to really emancipate ourselves from mental slavery

Anonymous said...

OMG. This girl just ruined her career with this. This is incredibly sad.

Anonymous said...

Linda Dats her own,Wetin concern me

BRIGHTINO said...

This days I see girls I used to know on the road and I don't recognise them again. How can I regonize some one who used to be as dark as lupita but is now as fair as my albino neighbour living next door?

Chi chi said...

I do not agree. However, I do not condemn people who choose to bleach their skin.

Black is beautiful in all shades, the problem within our community is the fact that most darker skin people believe that the lighter people are more attractive, as potrayed in the media and even by majority of dark skin men preferring to date light skin girls. It is more of a complex issue in the black community. While in the general population of the world(other races) appreciate the brown chocolate skin more than the light skin. This is obvious in the fact that dark skin woman tend to be more successful thatn light skin, Naomi campel, iman, Lupita, Oluchi, Agbani, etc. These women are considered exquisite and beautiful with a difference.

White men also mostly prefer to date and marry dark skin girls. Thou this could also be an issue of opposite attracts.

The problem and issue is within our own community, which is why young people should be taught to appreciate themselves, hence why I cannot agree with this articule.

Anonymous said...

wateva...patoswife@gmail.com

CROWN said...

Eva open your eyes very well, d dark girl,is d same white girl... She haff bleached herself finish... That is Vera sidika.

Anonymous said...

Yeah!!!!!!!!! Jesus is White nd Devil is Black! White is good nd black is evil! Olooshi! Supporting low self esteem in women! B proud of who u r! D most expensive skin to manage is WHITe! Too many issues! Bleaching isn't just d end, management too!





#GozManuel Says#

Anonymous said...

To me, the saying "black is beautiful" quite underscores complex and to some degree an inferior one....you don't see Caucasian women going around reminding themselves " white is beautiful". So let's face it black women singing it at the roof top is sign most don't consider them attractive. It's a fact. Darker skinned Black women are doomed ...the black men don't want you, nor do oyinbo men find you attractive. The lighter skinned black women have some exoticness to their looks that make them more attract active than the lupita looking types

Nkechi J said...

I employ you to pls present that biblical verse, ahh why do Nigerian imprison themselves and others with religious tyranny? Even if the bible did say so, is it not up to the person to follow biblical directives? Abs since we're going all spiritual about "other people's decision concerning their own life" child of God how many biblical directives do you follow to the T? So Nigerian you are, eager to take the stick out of someone else's eye while the lodge take permanent residence in your eyes. How about you worry about yourself and your salvation and let others work out their salvation with God? You do think with all these pastors and churches in Nigeria, people will be a little more biblically knowledgeable... is it not the same bible that says "do not judge," as much as I hate the vast use of that phase, I use it here becos your judgmental imposition begs for it. Get a life and stop employing yourself judge and jury over other people's life!

Nkechi J said...

Just like blacks are holding onto, relaxing their hair, using make up, going to school and dude I can go on and on but why bother, you are clearly stuck on playing self righteous to afford others their right to live their life and do whatever the hell they want, so long and they are not hurting anyone else? What's your beef, be you and let others be them, that sounds simple enough but bullies like you can't seem to get it.

Anonymous said...

Black is beautiful all day, any day
Say no to BORA'




BORN TO SHINE!!!!

Love said...

See that's your understanding of it, I like being lighter, but not white; I also love my husband and can I tell you, he's all chocolate (sorry but am not into light skinned men) and I won't have it any other way, my daughter looks super adorable and she's dark skin. It's all about a person's choice. For example my hair is natural, should I then crucify those that prefer relaxed hair? I hate all these 20inches and up long ass weave that is obviously not the wearers hair, but its their choice. I say do you so long as you're not hurting anyone.

Anonymous said...

Exactly. While bleaching is a personal albeit dangerous choice, it is a disservice to the black race in general. Of all the groups of people on earth we are the most disjointed in terms of our connection to others in our group. A 5th generation Caucasian or Asian in any part of the world is very aware of who he is. A black person who has been away from home for 6 months is ready to discard of his name, culture, language. Historically and till this very day the black skin is a symbol of poverty, war, fraud and general negativity. This is a racist conditioning stemming from the crimes and subsequent well thought out effects of slavery and colonialism. There has always been a preference for lighter skin within the black race. House nigger vs field nigger? The lighter your skin the better living conditions you had. The writer said there was a time when the mantra 'black is beautiful' was relevant and that time is no more. So how does she quantify the rapid rise in skin bleaching? Why are black people trying to turn white if the scales are now balanced? What we're seeing today is a systematic shift from 'Africaness' - natural to artificial just for the sake of it. So black men prefer light skinned women. So does that mean that the entire summation of a woman's reason for being is her physical attractiveness? I am appalled that a black African woman can write such self hating words in a British newspaper without considering the treachery involved.

Anonymous said...

Double standards.no be this same woman Siddon dey argue with Dencia becos of bleaching tins.

Anonymous said...

You are a genius. I love you for this statement.

Damochedxb said...

" the skin colour of Africans goes a long way in emphasising our identity "..So in your tiny little mind the African skin color is/should be black right? What about those Arab Africans, light skinned Africans etc What is their African identity since their skin is not black? Pride in your identity doesn't have anything to do with your skin pls.. There is more to your Identity than just your skin..

Unknown said...

I disagree with her. She made her point. Bleaching, toning or whatsoever is not okay!!!

debrasgist.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Kind of stupid of her to say ppl bleach to change their race because no amount of skin bleaching product can change ones race. It is in the DNA.
Ppl bleach to have clearer and lighter skin, to attract the opposite sex etc. Nothing to do with wanting to be white.

Anonymous said...

I agree with her on why do we have to say black is beautiful it sounds as if it is needed to boost a sense of self esteem that is not actually present

Oyin said...

Nigerians can try all day to make bleaching seem like a preference or lifestyle choice all they want. Its an inferiority complex! There is no way to nicely package that. If you need to bleach your skin, wear colored contacts, or sew 30 inches of an Indian woman's hair to feel attractive, you are practicing self-hatred.

Anonymous said...

If girls like they should bleach the destinies out of their skin, that's their own wahala.I just think it absurd that people here even the writer justifies bleaching because ''men'' prefer lighter skinned girls, seriously?? Should that be a criteria or reason for bleaching? So because you want to compete with other women for a man's attention or for the attention of men, you change your skin colour? BULLSHIT.Anything that cannot be gotten naturally is not advisable and it is only lack of self esteem and confidence that can make anybody alter any part of their body when those parts don't pose as health risks or don't have health issues.A man or any man that looks for a certain colour of women to date is not worth it, seriously.he is going to eventually find someone brighter than you and your future or more curvy and then he will show you the door.I am a proud dark skinned lady, I may not be beautiful to the majority, but again everybody is entitled to their opinion of my looks.if people want to bleach any part of them, I advice that they bleach their ugly characters and low self esteem.i have never heard any man say I have been with this woman for a long time because she's beautiful or light skinned.ladies get your act together and don't die of inferiority complex! Everybody is always looking for a reason to justify rubbish.If it was so okay and normal and so right, we won't be needing write ups and commentaries justifying it.Soon somebody would soon come on here and write why it is okay to have children out of wedlock and how it's the persons' prerogative to do so,because nowadays must people are having kids without marriage.mistcheeeww. Biko bleachers bleach on you hear, you will get a lot of male attention and girls would be jealous of you and your life would be complete. Nonsense!

Alicia says... said...

GBAM!!!

Anonymous said...

Because your mother has fish brain doesn't mean every woman has it......mosquito brain asshole!

APPLE said...

Mental slavery.

PRETTY GIRL said...

I applaud her for this write up.Nigerians are very hypocritical and our men are just in denial.....80% of Nigerian men prefer light skin women... and in Nigeria today, sad but true, light skinned women are mostly favoured when it comes to a lot of things like beauty Pageants, music videos, magazine models, actresses and lots more...I don't use skin lightening products, am caramel in complexion so I totally love my skin and I don't wish to go even a shade lighter....But truelly, am not a judgemental person@ all so i don't talk down on people who feel the need to bleach or go a few shades lighter.As long as it makes them feel more confident and happier, leave them alone #Live and lets live

Anonymous said...

Reading through the comments its obvious most of the females here don't have a close relationship with their fathers', because the comments stink of lack of SELF CONFIDENCE.
How can people attribute the complexion of stars on tv to their reason for bleaching!
How can people attribute the fact that most contestants on MBGN are bleached!
What arrant nonsense!
You watch predominantly foreign tv, you are watching people of another RACE for christ sake.
The most successful females from beauty contestants are Oluchi & Agbani, maay I remind you they were & still are DARK skinned.
My dears any male that has to date you based on your COMPLEXION is IMMATURE! You can take that to the bank.
What Rubbish!!!
I thank God my sweetheart is intelligent n confident.
Lindodo abeg post my comment!
The next thing we should deal with in depth Ms Ikeji is this madness of fake/foreign accents (not leaving out LAFAs)
Thanks jare.

Anonymous said...

That's good.visit www.nollywoodtvreviews.com

Anonymous said...

#TeamBlackAndBeautiful# i'll everly cherish black, even though i'm dark, i so love dark guys, black is super beautiful, is jst dat only few knows...the only prob. i av is my ass, *sadface* too flat, i wish i had a big ass...God whyyyyyyyy?

Queen said...

honestly, the girl up there is more beautiful bleached, sorry but that's the truth

More romantic and sexy gist here

dele said...

agreed with u hundred percent

CLICK FOR HOT GIST

Rosemary said...

Nice writeup

Anonymous said...

I agree with her. I've never bleached because I'm naturally fair complexioned, but after a long time in the sun and I get a tan, I long to revert back to my original skin tone, as I prefer it. Even my husband, who is fair like me, likes to keep his natural skin tone and not get too dark.

But I've worn my hair natural for years so it's not like I've been brainwashed to want to be white. I just thank God my husband and I are light-skinned and so will our children.

Kimmy *****

Anonymous said...

That's not an excuse at all,how can a lady want to change her skin colour just to get attention from a man?...There's a man out there for every woman

Unknown said...

Eva d dark gal is d same white witch in d oda pic.....

Dike F(xyz) said...

I Love that. Much Respect to you!

Anonymous said...

Her money her life. Jopeyemi@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Lol. Boyfriend of life.

Anonymous said...

Well I had chocolate complextion I wasn't totally black n I had little advances 4rm men.d moment I decided to tone my skin n I became fairer,see chykers everywhere like pure water.I am married 2day with 2 lovely boys!thanks to toning my skin.its all abt choice.I made mine n I am loving it everyday!

dessymal said...

Black or white its all your choice...waiting for Etcetera to write on this topic
#optimistic

Anonymous said...

But then when the cancer happens it's the public that they call on to help fund their fight against such disease which in their own case they brought upon themselves. I disagree with her first of that 77% of Nigerian women prefer lighter skin and I also disagree that a larger portion of our men prefer a light skinned woman. I love me a dark skinned woman as long as she is beautiful inside out with a nice backyard permit me to say.

Anonymous said...

She is very correct, just take a look at the winners of beauty pageants in Nigeria they're all light skinned. So, who are we deceiving.

tolulope said...

thank you for the great deal


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Anonymous said...

till people realize it's all about the mind, you can't bleach your brain

Alicia says... said...

Both of my parents are milk chocolate skinned and i came out light skinned like my grandmother. I wonder how you will treat your children if they came out dark skinned. SMH

Alicia says... said...

Stop looking for excuses to be ignorant! She was clearly talking about sub Saharan Africans which 95% of them or more would be considered dark skinned!

Alicia says... said...

I disagree, she looked better in her radiant brown skin. Now she looks like a washed up ghost, and a basic one might i add.
SMH

Unknown said...

black is beautiful quiet ok, but that doesn't mean that its bad for one to improve his or her skin.

Anonymous said...

I truly pity girls...so pea brained. Changing your complexion because of men is the height of stupidity. I have always been dark and i have never lacked attention all my life. In fact,i am constantly used as a standard for beauty by friends and colleagues. If you want to bleach,do it because you like it but not because of men. You will be so shocked at how irritated your husband would be when he notices you cant do without the smelly items....he will still cheat on you anyway and your skin will rot so whats there to gain? I pity girls,honestly. Bleaching is simply wrong if its to attract men.

Anonymous said...

With a nice nice backyard bcos na u sabi create human being. Fuck out of here wif ur nonsense opinion

Anonymous said...

Still not true... Alicia, you are the ignorant sounding one. There are more than 5% of subsaharan Africans that are naturally light skinned. Like Damo said there's more to your identity than your skin.

I have always wondered why people care so much about others bleaching, lightening, toning or whatever else the rubbish practice is called. Anyone who wants to spend their hard earned money on it should be allowed. Just like tanning causes skin cancer and partakers are aware but continue...free the "bleachers" ooooh...lol.

If you are confident in your own skin...no pun intended, why care that A or B isn't? Abi you are worried they will be finer?

Anonymous said...

Big lie

Anonymous said...

@ Sede this is a well written piece and we can all tell you are very educated. You do have a point with the "black is beautiful" slogan being outdated and I strongly agree that we no longer need the self worth affirmation. However, the bleaching phenomenon we see among black women is beyond wanting to be prettier or confident and YES! it has everything to do with self-worth and lack of confidence with oneself. The most important thing is also the major health risk it will eventually impose with extreme forms of bleaching i.e injections. I think we need to focus on the mind-set of these women before anything else.

Anonymous said...

Honestly I really don't know what to make of dis whole write up. Saying sm1 who God created dark and decides to completely alter her skin isn't having complexity issues!!!??? The fact dat u feel more secure in anoda skin colour is proof dat u are not content with ur original skin. You don't have to be fair skinned to be beautiful and u can be fair skinned and not be beautiful tho u may be attractive cos of d colour dat is not a norm around here. If u say that fairskin is more celebrated in ds part of d world and u feel insecure cos of that why not try to look @ dose dark skinned celebrities that attract tons of admirers everytime their pc is on display with d likes of Mercy Johnson, Stephanie Okereke, Genevieve, Annie Idibia, Ini Edo and d list is endless. These ones have husbands or at least boyfriends and that nullifies d idea dat most men prefer light skinned ladies. Its all a matter of taste which differs frm one man to another. I am a proudly darkskinned person and I cannot quantify d attraction I get daily even while married. A man stared at me so hard one day in a supermarket and he noticed d ring on my finger, he just said "ur husband must be really proud of ur skin colour". I simply said thank u. Other times I get comments like "don't ever think of changing ur skin colour cos u simply glow" or like "ur colour is original cos it cannot be bought wt money but fairness can". Even my husband looked @ me one day and said he is trying to imagine me in a fair skin but he doesn't think I wl still be as beautiful. So what are we saying in essence is that taste differs cos God created us white, yellow, black, red, fat, slim, tall, short and whichever package one comes in one shd be thankful.

Anonymous said...

Honestly I really don't know what to make of dis whole write up. Saying sm1 who God created dark and decides to completely alter her skin isn't having complexity issues!!!??? The fact dat u feel more secure in anoda skin colour is proof dat u are not content with ur original skin. You don't have to be fair skinned to be beautiful and u can be fair skinned and not be beautiful tho u may be attractive cos of d colour dat is not a norm around here. If u say that fairskin is more celebrated in ds part of d world and u feel insecure cos of that why not try to look @ dose dark skinned celebrities that attract tons of admirers everytime their pc is on display with d likes of Mercy Johnson, Stephanie Okereke, Genevieve, Annie Idibia, Ini Edo and d list is endless. These ones have husbands or at least boyfriends and that nullifies d idea dat most men prefer light skinned ladies. Its all a matter of taste which differs frm one man to another. I am a proudly darkskinned person and I cannot quantify d attraction I get daily even while married. A man stared at me so hard one day in a supermarket and he noticed d ring on my finger, he just said "ur husband must be really proud of ur skin colour". I simply said thank u. Other times I get comments like "don't ever think of changing ur skin colour cos u simply glow" or like "ur colour is original cos it cannot be bought wt money but fairness can". Even my husband looked @ me one day and said he is trying to imagine me in a fair skin but he doesn't think I wl still be as beautiful. So what are we saying in essence is that taste differs cos God created us white, yellow, black, red, fat, slim, tall, short and whichever package one comes in one shd be thankful.

Unknown said...

All this bleaching debate comes down to self confidence in my opinion. All this negative comment about being dark is foolishness black skin comes in 43 different beautiful shades and some are fighting to be the one shade - why? Im mid tone not dark but not light, and used to admire my lighter skinned friends skin tone when i was a teen coz they got a lot of male attention until i realised its all about self confidence. Be confident in who you are make the best of what you have and you will attract attention simple!! by the way my dark chocolate skinned best friend gets tons of attention from very fair mixed race guys so the anonymous commenter that said dark skinned women are doomed coz black men dont want us can go to hell. deuces

Unknown said...

All this bleaching debate comes down to self confidence in my opinion. All this negative comment about being dark is foolishness black skin comes in 43 different beautiful shades and some are fighting to be the one shade - why? Im mid tone not dark but not light, and used to admire my lighter skinned friends skin tone when i was a teen coz they got a lot of male attention until i realised its all about self confidence. Be confident in who you are make the best of what you have and you will attract attention simple!! by the way my dark chocolate skinned best friend gets tons of attention from very fair mixed race guys so the anonymous commenter that said dark skinned women are doomed coz black men dont want us can go to hell. deuces

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