Page 42 - Urban Kapital Magazine Autumn 21

It is always gratifying to see women of The conversation of colourism is one that
colour celebrating each other and the skin often needs revisiting as it is constantly
that they were born in. evolving.

It is also encouraging to find dolls that rep- The manner in which people of colour are
resent the many forms of people such as treated based on their skin tone changes
the Akiki dolls created by on a daily basis. This begs the questions:
Fatuma Abdullah’s Akiki.
“If a person of colour is treated one way
Akiki created the doll with the aim of t when they are darker?” “How would they
eaching young girls to see their differences be treated if they decided to change their
as a positive and to foster self-worth. appearance?”

The Ntomb’entle dolls range created by Changing the narrative that one is more
South African Molemo Kgomo, a mom who desirable than the other because of the
could not find a pretty black doll for her colour of their skin, as well as their
daughter at toy stores is another great physical features by introducing a lot
example. more diversity in the corporate
environment, media and schools is a
The Ntomb’entle Dolls range offers a great way to start.
variety of dolls modelled after several
South African cultures including Zulu, So-
tho, Pedi, Swazi, Ndebele, Venda, Tsonga,
Xhosa. Ivorian designer, Sara Coulibaly,
created Naima dolls to provide and
improve the representation of darker
skinned women in the African continent.
MAGAZINE // 42 than 20 women.
Sara goes even beyond to employ more