Lupita Nyong’o is no stranger to the spellbinding nature of African storytelling. As an actor, her portrayals of formidable African women characters—such as Nakku Harriet in Queen of Katwe, Nakia in Black Panther, and the girl in Eclipsed on Broadway—have earned her widespread critical acclaim, including an historical feat as the first Black African woman to win an Oscar.
With her new podcast, Mind Your Own, Lupita sets her sights on a new medium with a similar mission of showcasing the richness and diversity of African stories. Produced by KQED’s Snap Studios and distributed by Lemonada Media, Mind Your Own features her own real-life tales along with her subjects across the African diaspora, from Nairobi, Johannesburg, Addis Ababa and Lagos, to Toronto, New York and Los Angeles.
The first two episodes, which premiered last Thursday, quickly grabbed listeners’ attention. In one episode, the Mexican-born Kenyan star recounts her discomfort in losing her accent for the American market before reclaiming her authentic voice. In another, we follow the misadventures of a grave robber in Kenya.
“I wanted to create that feeling of intimacy that, if you are African, this table is set for you; if you are not, you are invited to join and partake with us,” Lupita said in an interview with Elle. “The environment is a place of bounty and it’s also a place of gratitude.”
The eight remaining episodes of the 10-part series will be available weekly as Lupita takes listeners on a journey to villages, cities, cemeteries, on planes, and even the red carpet to experience the joy, messiness and complexity of Africa and Africanness.
Take a listen below.
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