Talk:Lupita Nyong'o

Mexican-Kenyan Origins

this is strange, and the facts around it should be stated more clearly,

  she lived in Mexico as a newborn, as a child of kenyan parents, less than a year,
  when she was 16, she went to Mexico to study Spanish for 7 month,
  the rest of her life, until ..., she lived in Kenya

How could anyone with this biographical background come to call himself Mexican-Kenyan?

What is the legal context?

• How is her citizenship viewed from Mexican, Kenyan law?
• Did she ever, does she have a Mexican passport, is she entitled to Mexican citizenship?
• Is she considered a Mexican citizen by Mexican law?

Does she declare herself Mexican-Kenyan to have a safe citizenship-alternative?

Quessler (talk) 00:02, 21 March 2015 (UTC)

From the English source given as a citation:

"I've seen the quarrels over my nationality, but I'm Kenyan and Mexican at the same time. So again, I am Mexican-Kenyan and I am fascinated by carne asada tacos."

From the original Spanish source:

“He visto que se pelean mi nacionalidad, pero yo soy keniana y mexicana al mismo tiempo, por eso insisto, soy mexicana-keniana y me fascinan los tacos de carne asada.”

Mexico is an unconditional jus soli country; she became a national of Mexico at birth and automatically a citizen at age 18. Under Mexican nationality law, the government will always (as long as she doesn't commit an act of treason) consider her to be a Mexican national since Mexican-born individuals can not lose their nationality. Through jus sanguinis, she is a citizen of Kenya. Both Kenya and Mexico allow multiple citizenship. Xochiztli (talk) 07:05, 9 May 2015 (UTC)

I have difficulty understanding why she must referred to as a "Mexican-Kenyan". Just because she "identifies" as it, does not mean that she is. People can identify however they want to and it does not mean they are right. A person can identify as an "adult" even though he/she is a teenager.

I understand that she was born in Mexico and has Mexican citizenship but many people who are born in foreign countries gain citizenships from there, even if they weren't raised there.

She was raised in Kenya from a very young age (less than a year old) and comes from a Kenyan family but just happened to be born in Mexico. Why is she considered a "Mexican-Kenyan". Is "Mexican-born Kenyan" not correct? How is it not correct?

Arnold Schwarzenegger was born and raised in Austria, is an Austrian citizen, but moved to the States in his early is twenties. He had his career start in the States and is therefore considered an "Austrian-born American". How is Lupita Nyong'o more Mexican than Arnold Schwarzenegger is Austrian? Lupita Nyong'o lived in Mexico for a very short period of time and she did not begin her career there, nor did she even attend college there. She lived a lot longer in the States than in Mexico. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Doubletoasted01 (talk • contribs) 17:49, 10 May 2015 (UTC)

The matter was explained clearly above. She is a Mexican-Kenyan with dual citizenship because she was born in Mexico and the Mexican Constitution defines anyone born there as a Mexican citizen. There is no requirement that someone go to college there or start their career there. The're is no minimum residency time requirement. You are entitled to your own opinion but you are not entitled to add your unreferenced opinion to the article contrary to what the reliable sources and the Mexican Constitution say. Please drop the matter and move on. Cullen³²⁸ Let's discuss it 19:18, 10 May 2015 (UTC)

However, there are many countries in which a person who is born there is automatically a citizen of the country. There have been various celebrities who were born in countries different from the ones they were raised in. Yet they are simply considered "COUNTRY OF BIRTH-born COUNTRY WHERE RAISED". For example, "Italian-born American". Actually, in many cases, it does not even mention the country where they were born. How is this any different for Lupita Nyong'o? Referring to her as Mexican is very misleading. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Doubletoasted01 (talk • contribs) 20:18, 10 May 2015 (UTC)

I'm glad you have decided to discuss, but I honestly don't understand why the disconnect. The actress was asked what she identified as and she clearly stated 'Mexican-Kenyan', and she is 100% legally entitled to identify as Mexican. Neither you nor I, nor anyone else, can tell her what she believes she is or isn't (especially when she has the backing of sovereign states). We are here to tell the facts and the fact is she is Mexican. If one day she becomes a naturalized American citizen and she starts to identify as American, then the article should be changed accordingly. Again, she is Mexican not only legally, but also through self-identification. All of this is a non-issue and I would very much like it to stop. Xochiztli (talk) 20:37, 10 May 2015 (UTC)

"All of this is a non-issue and I would very much like it to stop. Xochiztli (talk) 20:37, 10 May 2015 (UTC)"

You're not "glad" at all! Well, I guess you're the queen, and we must all bow down to you. But guess what, Your Royal Highness? Obviously, it is an issue, and it's not going to stop being one, just because or your royal edict. Aren't we entitled?! 2604:2000:1580:62DA:1920:48F:A553:49A1 (talk) 18:45, 19 February 2019 (UTC)

Get mental help, sockpuppet. Seriously Kay girl 97 (talk) 04:19, 13 March 2019 (UTC)

I don't think the problem here is her nationality and identification but the fact that there are people out there hanging over petty issues.There are far more relevant things that need your attention.She chose to identify herself as a Mexican and that shouldn't bother you or anyone else.You seriously need help,attention seeker Queen mash (talk) 04:52, 10 November 2019 (UTC)

I agree, this is a non-issue and I don't understand how it's not fixed yet. She is legally Mexican, born in Mexico, identifies as Mexican, speaks Spanish. If we can put Timothée Chalamet as a French-American then we can definitely put Lupita Nyong'o as Kenyan-Mexican. There, consensus! Tejalmathew (talk) 04:29, 18 June 2025 (UTC)

It is fixed. Consensus is leave it out of intro as too complex for there and describe later in lead. Geraldo Perez (talk) 05:20, 18 June 2025 (UTC)

Revisiting nationality in the lede

In what way is her Mexican citizenship a noteworthy part of her notability. Please see MOS:CONTEXTBIO – she was born in Mexico, but was raised in Africa from age 1, and has done no notable works in Mexico, or as a "Mexican". The lede already notes that she was born in Mexico (rightly or wrongly) – but to say she is "a Kenyan and Mexican actress" is straight-up inaccurate and misleading. The lead should simply state that she is "a Kenyan actress", while leaving the "born in Mexico" part. --IJBall (contribs • talk) 00:53, 11 September 2022 (UTC)

Just move on, she's Mexican and she ever be Mexican

No matter what the people says, she was born in Mexico and she consider herself as Kenyan-Mexican, so what's the big deal??

There's a lot of American-born artists who just born in the U.S. but with foreign parents like Anya Taylor-Joy, Ana Brenda Contreras, Mackenyu, Emma Horvath, Cosmo Jarvis, Arty Froushan, Tom Long and more.

I hope you do the same mess with them too, not just with a Mexican actress!

And i am very sure that if she were born in another country like England or the U.S. you were not doing the mess you are doing right now, ohhh but like she born in a country you consider "lower" that's why you do all this mess, easily you will considering her Kenyan-American. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2601:248:4F80:24F0:7D33:5736:B829:2D97 (talk) 03:35, 10 May 2023 (UTC)

Hi, shall we omit Nyong’o’s nationality in the first sentence? I’m well aware of the fact that she identifies as “Mexican-Kenyan”. However, I don’t find being a Mexican citizen that important to her notability either. Thedarkknightli (talk) 20:24, 25 April 2024 (UTC)

There is no need for a person's nationality to be important to their notability for it to be included in the lead sentence. Nationality is basic biographical information that is routinely included in lead sentences of Wikipedia biographies, along with date of birth. Cullen328 (talk) 20:33, 25 April 2024 (UTC)

Well, MOS:CONTEXTBIO says, "In controversial or unclear cases, nationality is sometimes omitted." And there're a lot of BLPs in which nationalities are excluded from the first sentences (Elon Musk, Russell Crowe, Paulina Porizkova, Eileen Gu, etc). Anyway, Nyong'o's nationality is a contentious issue. Thedarkknightli (talk) 21:16, 25 April 2024 (UTC)

The problem with that argument is that her dual nationality is uncontested, either by Nyong'o herself, or by reliable sources knowledgeable with Mexican citizenship law. Her dual nationality is neither controversial nor unclear. Who says that it is "contentious", other than a handful of anonymous people on the internet? Cullen328 (talk) 01:46, 26 April 2024 (UTC)

OK, sorry for that sloppy comment. Let's call her either "Kenyan" (as what we've done in Anna Paquin, Morena Baccarin, Katie Melua, Nina Dobrev, etc.) or "Kenyan and Mexican" (as the MOS says, "In cases of public or relevant dual citizenship, or a career that spans a subject's emigration, the use of the word and reduces ambiguity."). Thedarkknightli (talk) 16:21, 30 May 2024 (UTC)

Not sure why you have reverted my edit, @Georgia Bird. Thedarkknightli (talk) 19:28, 11 June 2024 (UTC)

She is the first Mexican actress to win an Oscar, just as she is the first Kenyan actress to win an Oscar. Both are notable parts of her identity. She’s not someone who just so happens to be a dual citizen like Scarlett Johansson. Trillfendi (talk) 19:46, 11 June 2024 (UTC)

Hi @Trillfendi, thanks for your timely reply! Well, I've actually discovered these reliable sources, which have called her "Kenyan" rather than "Kenyan-Mexican": CNN, AFP, Quartz, The Times, Forbes Africa, Africanews, Marca, BBC News, TRT Africa and The Africa Report. And I'd like to start an RfC if you guys don't mind. Thedarkknightli (talk) 20:21, 21 June 2024 (UTC)

Her entire notable life was in the US as at least a permanent resident and citizen. She has done nothing notable in Mexico or Kenya, all her notable activities were in the uS. Per WP:CONTEXTBIO ethnicity and birth location don't belong in intro and the nationality in intro is where resides and where notable activities occurred. Geraldo Perez (talk) 04:21, 5 September 2024 (UTC)

Since how to describe her is becoming more involved mostly because she official obtained US citizenship after being a permanent resident of the US for her whole career. I still think the proper nationality context is American because of US immigrant permanent residency but removing the list of all three from the intro and leaving the details to the second paragraph which already describes the situation may be best. Geraldo Perez (talk) 02:19, 7 September 2024 (UTC)

You said it, all her major activities are in the US, but she didn't have US citizenship until 2024, so all her major activities in the US before that year were as a Kenyan and Mexican, not an American. Therefore she already has major activities in both countries, like Salma Hayek in Mexico, America and France. Geraldo Perez you can suck my deeck 189.202.40.41 (talk) 23:56, 13 September 2024 (UTC)

At this point leaving out the multiple nationalities as it is complex and also contentious on how to describe it still seems the best compromise. Strictly by MOS:CONTEXTBIO Mexican should be left out as it is irrelevant to anything she has done and is just her birth location, Mexico gave her citizenship because she was born there but she had no career in Mexico. An argument could be made to list Kenyan as that was both her birth nationality and where she was raised. American due to where all her notable activities as an immigrant and citizen. "Kenyan and American actress" would be reasonable for the lead. Hyphenated connected nationalities ending in American just means an American with ancestry in those other countries and should not ever be used if multi-national is to be described. Geraldo Perez (talk) 16:08, 29 October 2024 (UTC)

Well, now I think "Kenyan and Mexican" is fine cuz I haven't found any reliable sources that had explicitly called her an "American actress". Thedarkknightli (talk) 06:09, 7 January 2025 (UTC)

Article appears stable leaving it out of the intro and explaining the situation later in the lead. Geraldo Perez (talk) 06:52, 7 January 2025 (UTC)

I don't understand why we can't just say she's a Mexican-born, Kenyan-American actress cause she was born in Mexico, raised in Kenya with Kenyan parents and obtained US citizenship in 2024? Purrmissgurrr2 (talk) 15:22, 16 March 2025 (UTC)

Mainly because MOS:FIRSTBIO says don't include birth location or ethnicity in intro. Geraldo Perez (talk) 16:50, 16 March 2025 (UTC)

Well @Purrmissgurrr2, there's no evidence that she's relinquished her Mexican citizenship, so "Mexican-born" is kinda misleading. Thedarkknightli (talk) 17:11, 16 March 2025 (UTC)

Can we include her nationality in the short description? I consider it fine. I mean, I don't really see a consensus against it in LN's case.

Hi @FMSky, @SNUGGUMS, @Clear Looking Glass, and @JDDJS, could you guys please take a look at this? Thanks in advance! Thedarkknightli (talk) 10:11, 21 March 2025 (UTC)

It dont get the rules regarding nationalities, it seems to be different in every article. Sometimes its "Mexican-born" but nothing else, other times its "Mexican-American", other times its "Mexican and American", or its not allowed to state any nationality at all. So I cant help you here because I dont know what the exact guideline is. FMSky (talk) 10:25, 21 March 2025 (UTC)

Well @FMSky, like I said in this comment, I consider "Kenyan and Mexican" fine (as a descriptor in both short description and first sentence). I don't have a problem with "Kenyan-Mexican" as a descriptor in short description either. What I oppose is mentioning her US citizenship in lead, with the exception of infobox. Thanks for your timely response, though. Thedarkknightli (talk) 11:05, 21 March 2025 (UTC)

While pinging me for this feels arbitrary, I see no issue with using that for the short description here. SNUGGUMS (talk / edits) 14:27, 21 March 2025 (UTC)

The short description should supplement the title. It generally should summarize what is in the intro sentence avoiding info that is in the title itself. It shouldn't be adding information that isn't in the intro sentence. Including Mexican is contentious as she had no notable work in Mexico, has done all her notable work in the US, but likes to call herself Mexican. About the only thing everyone agrees with is "Kenyan" with the issue of what else if anything to include. Leaving it out with subsequent statements in the lead clarify the situation is the way it should remain as it should for complex situations. Geraldo Perez (talk) 16:26, 21 March 2025 (UTC)

I think the was a confusion in the discussion between “ethnicity” and “citizenship” or “nationality”. She is Kenyan regardless where she’s born, just like we call certain artists as “Jewish” regardless where they were born or their religion. Then this is probably the reason why there’s a consensus here in calling her Kenyan, this definition nothing to do with the discussion of her “nationality”, which can multiple. All things consider, from this long discussion we have:

1. A consensus in calling her Kenyan, because it’s her ethnicity regardless her citizenship status;
2. There is a consensus in accepting the fact that she was born in Mexico, no one seems to be disputing this fact.
3. From the discussion it’s possible to say there’s no consensus in calling her Mexican though.
4. Therefore, we can just mention Mexico as her birthplace without entering in the endless discussion on if she’s Mexican or not.

PepGuardi (talk) 07:37, 22 March 2025 (UTC)

This is covered with context and explanation in the second paragraph which is sufficient for the lead. We don't list ethnicity or birth location in the intro per MOS, her triple citizenship is covered in the infobox, there is disagreement on what to list as nationally context for the intro sentence. Kenyan has the strongest support but Mexican and American have a claim as well due to her calling herself Mexican and US where all her notable work was done. Geraldo Perez (talk) 08:16, 22 March 2025 (UTC)

@FMSky: the guidelines are at MOS:CONTEXTBIO, a part of the Manual of Style for Wiki. Lots of articles ignore it, thus the variations. Geraldo Perez (talk) 16:31, 21 March 2025 (UTC)

Question:

Could the summary / short desc refer to herself as "Mexican-born Kenyan-American / Kenyan and American citizen?"

Although this might have been a fluke (given the MOS:CONTEXTBIO, on the lattermost example in nationality examples subsection and which this subject Anya Taylor-Joy won't specify nationality), I do understand some form of the citizenry laws that both Mexico and the US have jus soli; Kenya has Jus sanguinis. While technically and legally she was not born there, she already did obtain American citizenship as recently as 2024.

Given the circumstances that the three nations does have clear (if not absolute) interpretations about citizenship, she may fit the criteria (and just her, not sure about Elon Musk tho)_{(might as well call him South African-born Canadian-American)} that the summary can just refer to her as such... Although I'm sure there'd be some conflicting sources whether if that was the case and idk if there are precedence to this, as the discussion about Olga Kurylenko have already been down to putting the nationality (Ukrainian-born French actress) after that article had been in a nationality edit wrangling until 2024 when its decided to omit the nationality and later acquiesced to placing that phrase in the summary... (Don't take my word for it however, I only read the current discussion version and not the talk archives or the article's edit history) ROBLOXGamingDavid (talk) 18:44, 9 June 2025 (UTC)

That is much too complex and wordy for the intro sentence context summary and CONTEXTBIO suggests leaving it out and describing the details later in the lead with explanations which is what has been done in the article. Geraldo Perez (talk) 19:36, 9 June 2025 (UTC)

Looking through i guess that was quite long... To combine with three nations... Two nations to be mixed as a nationality identity when summarizing articles is probably long enough. Being said, this article did have additional information later on in the summary. ROBLOXGamingDavid (talk) 08:46, 10 June 2025 (UTC)

She does not live in Brooklyn anymore

But rather in LA as seen on Kimmel.. MakeItSo84 (talk) 03:03, 16 June 2024 (UTC)

Personal Life Edit - Agnostic

The current wikipedia page claims that she is agnostic. It is sourced by a YouTube video in which around the 4 minute mark, Lupita responds to whether she believes in aliens with the eventual response of, "I am agnostic." This sentence on her page should either be removed or clarified. When one reads she is agnostic, it is assumed that it is in regard to her belief in God, not her belief in aliens. 2601:47:4981:A00:551F:D735:A68E:E16A (talk) 02:25, 12 July 2024 (UTC)

I came here to make the same argument. I have no idea whether or not Nyong'o is an agnostic, but the source for the claim takes a flippant comment about aliens completely out of context. "Nyong'o is agnostic" clearly implies a belief related to a deity, for which no evidence has been provided. 2A02:C7C:D8B0:900:4407:95AC:7031:388B (talk) 00:05, 4 August 2024 (UTC)

How do we get it fixed? I don't know my way around wiki edits too well. Particularly with this type of page, which doesn't appear to allow edits. Brian.pinder2 (talk) 13:46, 6 August 2024 (UTC)

American citizenship

On August 2024, Lupita Nyong'o announced on her Instagram that she has become an American citizen and will be a first-time voter in the 2024 US Elections. She also endorsed Kamala Harris in the same video. Anniefragile1277 (talk) 05:00, 31 August 2024 (UTC)

Kenyan-Mexican

She identifies as Kenyan and Mexican, so we should add that info as her nationality. 2806:2F0:41A4:E8EF:E5A9:D2C5:31E7:FE8C (talk) 01:26, 29 June 2025 (UTC)

No, see extensive discussions about this topic on this talk page. Geraldo Perez (talk) 02:52, 29 June 2025 (UTC)