Eighty-seven-year-old Mama Dorca Nyong’o tunes to a local radio channel to catch up with the latest news about her granddaughter, Lupita Nyong’o. Although she is miles away from celebrity granddaughter, the granny is up to date with the latest news of her new conquests in the world of Hollywood. Mama Dorca gives a wide smile as the news anchor showers praises on the latest pride of Africa.
The anchor says Dholuo: “Jatugo maranjiri Lupita Nyongo man en nyar seneta ma Kisumo, oyudo yomb ma migosi e piny mar Amerka” (veteran actor Lupita Nyong’o, daughter of Kisumu senator Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o has won a prestigious award in America). Lupita’s grandmother stands and raises up her hand before uttering a prayer. “Dear Lord, I thank you for this day that you have given me. You have made me proud,” she says.
The grandmother reveals how she noticed her grandchild’s acting talent way back when she was still a little child. “She was always confident even when she was talking to me and even her parents. She was never afraid,” says the proud grandmother. She reveals how on many occasions she urged his son Prof Peter Anyang’ and wife Dorothy to let Lupita pursue her acting dream even after completing school.
“I noticed that she loved drama even here at home, she could always act with her age mates,” she said Lupita , the Kenyan actress and Yale School of Drama graduate who turned 31 on Saturday, won the best supporting actress Oscar Award on Sunday. She has already picked up the Screen Actors Guild and Critics choice Awards for best supporting actress for her role as Patsey, a slave brutalised by her sadist owner, played by Michael Fassbender.
Born in Mexico, the source of her Spanish name and where her father was teaching political science at University, Lupita is the second born in a family of six. “I wish my granddaughter well and I know all will be well as she pursues her career,” says Mama Dorca. She says, “Amonde” as she is fondly known, has lifted not only the name of her family but that of entire country and Africa as a whole.
“This is a true win for Africa and the whole nation. We should all join in celebrating the achievement by our daughter.” At Ratta market, Lupita’s ancestral home, residents were elated at her achievement and showered her with praise. Albert Oketch, a boda boda operator, said: “At least we have produced a woman, who like another Barack Obama, has made us proud”. Oketch urged Lupita to come with the award home so that it can be blessed by the community. “We want her to be here to celebrate with us,” he said.
That’s lovely :peluk