An image of models Karabo Nkuna ((L) and Portia Hlongwane (R) who were recently interviewed on 'Morning Live' by Simphiwe Ncongwana (inset). Picture: Instagram
A recent comment by Morning Live host Simphiwe Ncongwana has sparked a debate on colourism.
In a clip shared on social media, Ncongwana wraps up an interview on the SABC2 news show with Karabo Nkuna and Portia Hlongwane.
“Ladies, we thank you so much for your time and well done for so beautifully depicting and representing both narratives that dark skin is beautiful and light skin is much more beautiful,” he said.
Though the video has since made its way to Facebook and Instagram, it was originally shared by Twitter user @ntombi_jb who received over 900 comments and 4,400 retweets on the post.
“Much more, haibo,” commented Sihle Zwane on Facebook, while Kimberly Botha said “English mistake relax… He wanted to say just as beautiful.”
Those who left comments on the Facebook post containing the video were in two minds about the issue. Some felt as though it was a simple mistake while others believed colourism was at play.
The same could be said for Twitter comments about the Morning Live clip.
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Some even alluded to the fact that Ncongwana may have chosen to phrase his statement like that because of his own skin complexion.
Social media users who brushed it off as a mistake were even accused of taking that position on Ncongwana’s comment in the Morning Live clip based on their own skin complexion.
Ncongwana has not yet addressed the controversy.
Colourism is officially defined as prejudice or discrimination against individuals with a dark skin tone, typically among people of the same ethnic or racial group.
It is believed to be the root cause of dysmorphia associated with one’s skin tone that often leads to skin bleaching and other practices in an effort to look as white as possible. Colourism is also believed to have advanced the careers of certain people within in ethnic group over the careers of others based on their skin tone.
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