The father of Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o has revealed how the 12 Years A Slave actress's family suffered real brutality and torture in Kenya.
Miss Nyong'o won both awards and critical praise for her performance as Patsey in director Steve McQueen's harrowing film in which her character appeared in some of the most shocking scenes, but her own family were also the victims of harassment, violence and even murder.
Peter Nyong'o, now a leading Kenyan politician who serves on the country's Senate, has now revealed the true extent of family's brutal treatment, which led to them having to flee to Mexico where Lupita was born in March 1983.
Mr Nyong'o said he had struggled to watch his daughter's acting triumph, but added that his own experiences pale in comparison to Solomon Northup, played in the historical drama by British actor Chiwetel Ejiofor.
'We were put into prison and the torture chambers by the regime, but it was like a dinner party when you compare it to what the slaves went through,' he said.
Mr Nyong'o said that his brother Charles had vanished in 1980, two years after Mr Moi came to power, and at a time which Mr Nyong'o described as being 'difficult' politically.
His body was never recovered and no one has ever been brought to justice for the killing.
'Even now, no information has come to light. I know he was on a ferry in Mombasa and witnesses who I managed to talk to told me clearly that it was not an accident and he had been attacked and pushed off the ferry. But the witnesses were too terrified to testify to the police,' he said.
Mr Nyong'o said he had spoken to members of the Kenyan Special Branch and although he was told by one that they knew what happened the force were unwilling to help him.
***Sad.
1 comment:
Africa barbarism. Glad the bad times are over for this family.
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