Leadnaija
Nigerian actress and media personality Stella Damasus has called out Hollywood for what she describes as a limited and stereotypical portrayal of Africa and its people.
In a recent statement, Damasus expressed frustration over the entertainment industry’s tendency to reduce African identity to a narrow set of characteristics — often involving exaggerated accents and uniform skin tones that fail to reflect the continent’s vast cultural and ethnic diversity.
“Hollywood’s narrow idea of what it means to be ‘African’ is deeply problematic,” she said. “It forces actors into inauthentic roles that require fake accents and conform to outdated skin-tone stereotypes, effectively erasing the real stories and richness of Africa’s 54 countries.”
Damasus emphasized the need for more authentic representation in global media and urged content creators to engage with African stories with depth, accuracy, and respect.
