Melissa Nayimuli Talks Embracing Her South African & Ugandan Roots Plus Challenging Stereotypes in Nounouche’s Latest Issue

In Nounouche’s 15th Issue Melissa Nayimuli speaks to @therealcelineabrahams about her mixed heritage (South African/Ugandan), the shame she carried for a long time, seeking to belong, colourism, reclaiming herself and telling bold stories to unite Africans.

Here are a few excerpts from the interview:

“When I was in primary school up to high school, I had an identity crisis because I understood what xenophobia was. Growing up, I saw how disrespectful people were towards my father, using derogatory terms…It made me very scared to admit who I was and to embrace my Ugandan heritage where I would tell people that I am Xhosa only, I even tried to find a Xhosa name so that I could blend in. I would make sure that I spoke Xhosa in certain social situations so that I wasn’t attacked. It was a situation where I felt that I was a victim of something but also the perpetrator because I denounced one heritage of who I am to find protection within the society I lived and grew up in. But, I also saw the pain it caused my father because of my actions, so now, I make it a point whenever people ask about my heritage and who I am, I am Melissa but I am Xhosa and Ugandan – it’s not something I want to hide anymore, I want to fully embrace it because then it opens up the conversations of heritage, xenophobia, about unity as Africans and really where we come from.”

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Read the full interview HERE

Cover star: @melissanayimuli
Cover story: @therealcelineabrahams
Editor-in-Chief & Producer: @bonniemeslane
Managing Editor: @sesetuh
Photographer: @king_henry_iiv of @_rtcstudios
Creative Direction: @kgosilesego & @bonniemeslane
Makeup: @gorgemakeup_za
Hair: @theroyalkindness
Wardrobe & Styling: @advicebykgosilesego
Wardrobe Assistant: @lolakyle_
Photography team: RTC Studios
Lighting Director: @Khotso Tsaagane
Digitech: @Davidblaq
Assistant: Tshepo Zitha
Videography: Michael Dlamini
Graphic Design: @adekunle
Social Media Manager: @_uthandok

Wardrobe credit:
Silver cowboy boots: @europaart
Hot pink tulle high-low gown: @rentadressjhb

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