Lupita Nyong’o Set To Launch Children’s Book, Titled “Sulwe”

Kenyan-Mexican actress, Lupita Nyong’o, is set to release a children’s book which she has titled “Sulwe”. The book is a powerful, moving picture book about colourism, self-esteem, and learning that true beauty comes from within.

The stunning debut picture book sees the actress create a whimsical and heart-warming story to inspire children to see the beauty in their uniqueness.

The actress took to Instagram page recently to reveal the idea behind the book. Sharing a photo of her 5-year-old self, Lupita spoke about how it reflected on her feelings when she read books but couldn’t see characters that looked like her.

Lupita shared; “This is 5-year-old me. I reflected on this little girl’s feelings and fantasies when I decided to write my children’s book, #Sulwe. With this book, I wanted to hold up a mirror for her. Here’s why: As a little girl reading, I had all of these windows into the lives of people who looked nothing like me, chances to look into their worlds, but I didn’t have any mirrors. While windows help us develop empathy and an understanding of the wider world, mirrors help us develop our sense of self, and our understanding of our own world. They ground us in our body and our experiences. #Sulwe holds up a mirror for dark-skinned children especially, to see themselves reflected immediately, and it is a window for all the others to cherish peering into.”

“Sulwe” is set for release on October 15.

By: The Arubayi Keme