Tribal Colourism

Written by: Abisola Ogundiran, Nigeria - March 23, 2021

Colourism Among People Of The Same Tribe

Colourism is one of the emerging problems in our society today. Some say colourism is the aftermath of the colonial era in African countries and India. This issue is widespread, although highly overlooked by many in recent times. Watching Bollywood while growing up as a child, I always thought all Indians had really fair skin. I was surprised to learn they come in all shades, from dark skin tone to fair skin tone.

What is the meaning of the word colourism? Colourism is discrimination based on skin tone. It is also known as Shadeism by some quarters. What makes this discrimination baffling is that it occurs among people of the same country, tribe and ethnic group. Your skin shade can determine how you are treated, even among your own people.

Difference Between Colourism & Racism

Racism is a topic discussed all over the world, where people are discriminated against and profiled because they are from a particular race or nationality. Colourism is quite different from racism. Colourism occurs among black people most of the time. It is not only popular in most African countries where having fairer skin is seen as desirable; it appears among black Americans and some Asian countries.

Colourism can be seen everywhere. Fairer actresses have a better chance of being cast than a darker actress. Lighter models are more desirable and often bring in more money than dark models. Using Nigeria as an example, It has the largest population of black people on earth. You would think that being dark-skinned is a norm; that is where you got it wrong. Bleaching creams are sold by the millions to lighten people’s skin tone.

The fair girl in class used to be a way of describing the few fair people you come across, but these days, it is “the dark girl.” Almost all actresses in Nollywood, the Nigerian movie outfit, are fair; those that started with a dark skin tone have turned to a fair shade you will have a hard time recognizing them as black.

The Cause

During the colonial era, the white people who invaded the countries were placed superior to the locals who had darker skin. Many believe this was the genesis of colourism. The suppressed people began to associate fair/white with superiority and dark/black as inferior. This created a desire among many darker-skinned people to change to a fair skin tone. A quick look at African American movies released in Hollywood also confirmed this assertion. Most of the lead actresses and actors in these movies have mixed heritage and a light complexion rather than a dark skin tone.

The Bleaching Epidemic

The bleaching product market is currently valued at over 20 billion dollars due to high demands in Africa, the middle east and Asia. According to WHO, over 70% of Nigerians use bleaching creams. This is the highest figure in Africa, followed by Togo with over 50 percent, South Africa has 35 percent, and Senegal comes in last at 27 percent.

To show just how deeply rooted the problem is, we see people of the same tribe making fun of others for being so dark. Asides from being an unspoken requirement to become a star, having fair skin is just as desirable among men. They often prefer a fair lady to a dark one; the reason for this is best known to them. Due to the created insecurities of skin colour, women often start bleaching their children from infancy, and some have been known to ask healthcare providers how they can bleach their children’s skin before they are born.

The Solution

Bleaching has many side effects. The heavy metals used in most bleaching products can cause renal failure leading to more health burdens on the already overburdened healthcare system. Many people have suggested ways of battling the menace of colourism. It starts with awareness and sensitization. We need to let people know there is absolutely nothing wrong with having a darker skin tone. Perhaps, if movie producers cast more dark-skinned people in the lead roles, this might help.

References

https://www.un.org/africarenewal/magazine/april-2019-july-2019/paying-high-price-skin-bleaching

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-20444798

https://edition.cnn.com/2019/01/15/health/banning-bleaching-products-in-africa/index.html