Sulwe: Helping everyone see their inner beauty!
Almost everyone feels that they should have been a little lighter, (or darker), a little shorter, (or taller) etc. While such feelings are normal, what we should all guard ourselves from is allowing such feelings to engulf us, to define us and therefore to affect our self-esteem. That is what Sulwe, the young beautiful girl with the colour of midnight in Lupita Nyong’o’s children picture book, Sulwe, goes through. Upon noticing that everyone else, from her family to school, has a lighter skin completion, she allows this to define her self-esteem, believing that she is a lesser person, that she is ugly, among other negative connotations associated with the people of dark colour.
As such, she keeps to herself most of the time to avoid ridicule, and even attempts to change her skin colour in order to fit in, despite her mother’s support and encouragement. It takes a special night sky journey for her to appreciate her completion, to realize how beautiful she in her dark skin, and to appreciate that inner beauty is even more meaningful and special that her stunning outer beauty.
In Sulwe, Lupita confronts the demons that affected her upbringing, how she allowed her skin to control her self-esteem; and how, with support from her parents, she overcame this. This amazing simple children book is a must tread for every child as they will definitely struggle with something as they grow up. Be it skin colour, height, hair, social economic standing etc. Parents, too, will find it useful in guiding them to help their children to not only accept who they are, but appreciate themselves, and work on their inner being.
Written in simple language, with accompanying amazing pictures that every child will love, Lupita’s first book is such an easy read, but so powerful in its message. What’s more, Sulwe comes in three languages: English, Kiswahili and Dholuo.
Sulwe is available in select bookshops. You can buy it Here from Text Book Centre at Sh 1,190, and have it delivered to you.
