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By:
George Orido | |||||||||
| Posted:
Jul,04-2015 14:27:37
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NAIROBI: The long wait is over and Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o is back home. The Hollywood star, who arrived Tuesday, is in the country for a noble cause.
"I am so honored to be speaking to you here today as a Global Ambassador for Wildaid on a topic so dear to my heart--the conservation and preservation of elephants," these were Lupita's opening remarks when she finally took to the podium during a press conference at Villa Rosa Kempinski Hotel in Nairobi.
Among the audience was Sports, Arts and Culture Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario, Tanzanian musician Ali Kiba and Lupita's mother Dorothy. Never one to miss his sister's fine moments, Lupita's brother Peter Nyong'o Junior also accompanied her.
"I spent the past weekend at Amboseli National Park learning about them (elephants). Over the course of three days, I was introduced to many elephant families and was immersed in their way of life," said the actress.
She disclosed that the expedition was led by Katito Sayialel of the Amboseli Trust for Elephants, who has been studying their population in the park for over 20 years.
"I learned so many things that I never knew about this incredible animal. It was a truly transformative time. I am proud of my Kenyan heritage and part of that heritage is the incredible wildlife haven that is in our care," she said.
Lupita narrated how she went up close and candid with the elephants and in a consummate storytelling journey made one empathise with the conditions and realities of the animals.
She told the story of one family of elephants, whose matriarch was born with only one tusk.
"I met Leana's family who had a recent one-year-old addition that the Trust chose to name Lupita. She followed her mother closely and gave out a loud trumpet sound when she wouldn't stop to breastfeed her. Katito said Lupita was being stubborn--that made me proud--I like a girl who knows what she wants!" said Lupita, sending the hall into a deafening laughter.
The actress persuaded Kenyans to continue with the good efforts of conservation"because an elephant kept alive strengthens our economy and can be worth Sh1 million dollars of tourism revenue in its lifetime, whereas when it is poached, it only provides a handful of people with a few thousand shillings."
BUSY SCHEDULE
"I learned currently that an elephant is poached every 15 minutes. Every 15 minutes, another million dollars is lost. That's 96 million dollars a day," she added. The actress is truly passionate about conservation if the video of her reciting a poem on elephants at the age of six at Loreto Convent Msongari is anything to go by. The video was shown by her mother. However, the elephant in the room was why the People Magazine Most Beautiful Woman of the Year has been dodging the Kenyan public after her big win. But Lupita defended herself, saying she has had a busy schedule since winning the Oscar. "I only go where there is something to be done. I am glad today I have had a good reason to be here. It is never too late to be home," she said. The actress said there is a lot of talent in the country and asked Kenyans to make the first step in growing the creative economy by buying original products. "When you buy that original music CD, you are empowering the musician to grow," she said adding that with time and resources, she would probably build a theatre and other related facilities to help young Kenyan artistes develop their talents.
Lupita was however, cagey on the details of Star Wars, the project she is currently working on.
"If told you that, I would have to kill you," she joked.
Dr Wario announced that the newly refurbished Kenya National Theatre will be opened by President Uhuru Kenyatta soon.
"I want to thank Kenya Breweries for injecting Sh 110 million into the project with the Government adding another Sh4 million to give us a state-of-the art facility. And I welcome Lupita to come to the new facility because she acted there," he said. He also announced that filmmaker Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are coming to shoot a new movie in Kenya after his intervention in Los Angeles two months ago.
Lupita had a busy schedule and was to attend a meeting of young Kenyans for an intimate conversation about the arts and education in an event dubbed 'An Afternoon with Lupita.'
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