【South Africa】Oscar-Winning Actress Lupita Nyong’o Visits South Africa and Namibia to Gain In-Depth Understanding of How Natural Diamonds Promote Sustainable Development

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Editor’s Note

This article details actress Lupita Nyong’o’s recent trip to southern Africa, undertaken in her role as a De Beers ambassador, to witness firsthand the social and economic contributions of the natural diamond industry in its source communities.

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Oscar-Winning Actress Lupita Nyong’o Visits South Africa and Namibia to Gain In-Depth Understanding of How Natural Diamonds Promote Sustainable Development

Oscar-winning actress and De Beers Global Brand Ambassador Lupita Nyong’o recently visited South Africa and Namibia for an immersive experience of the positive impact natural diamonds have on the people and societies of their countries of origin.

Visit to South Africa

In South Africa, Lupita visited the world-class Venetia diamond mine, part of the De Beers Group, to gain a deep understanding of how each stage of the production value chain contributes to the sustainable development of local communities. She also toured the adjacent 32,000-hectare Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve. Owned and managed by the De Beers Group as part of its comprehensive conservation efforts, the reserve provides a protected habitat for a variety of flora and fauna, including endangered species.

Visit to Namibia

In Namibia, Lupita visited the Namibia Diamond Trading Company (NDTC) and Namdeb Holdings, joint ventures in which the Namibian government and De Beers each hold a 50% stake. The NDTC is responsible for sorting and valuing rough diamonds mined in Namibia and selling them to Namibian diamond polishing companies. Namdeb Holdings is a world-class diamond producer in Namibia, mining some of the world’s highest-value diamonds.

During her visits to both countries, De Beers showcased to Lupita its programs designed to empower surrounding communities. These include initiatives promoting equal opportunities for women and girls, education and early childhood programs, support for local entrepreneurship, and infrastructure projects such as water resources and road improvements.

As a staunch supporter of women’s and girls’ rights, Lupita also visited the #Befree Campus in Namibia. Founded by former Namibian First Lady Monica Geingos, the institution is dedicated to providing youth with reproductive health services and skills training. Lupita attended a local dinner alongside the Namibian Minister in the Presidency and senior business leaders. Concluding her visit to Namibia, Lupita met with Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba, who commended her for actively seeking to understand the contribution of natural diamonds to the country’s economic development.

Lupita Nyong’o’s Remarks
“My relationship with De Beers goes back a long way, and I have always been deeply interested in the origins of natural diamonds, hoping to experience the production process firsthand. I was truly honored to meet with professionals from the diamond industry in South Africa and Namibia. What moved me most was seeing female employees breaking barriers and achieving remarkable success in this historically male-dominated industry. Many women from surrounding communities have become excellent drill operators, geologists, and engineers. Their success in these technical roles has been incredibly inspiring and encouraging to me.
Here, I personally experienced and gained a deep understanding of the changes natural diamonds bring to the local area. At the same time, I became profoundly aware that the impact of diamonds extends far beyond this. Diamonds have changed the lives of many local people. Undoubtedly, the impact of diamonds on local society is as brilliant and multifaceted as the diamonds themselves.”
De Beers CEO’s Statement
“We were delighted to invite Lupita to visit South Africa and Namibia in person and show her the positive impact natural diamonds have across the entire value chain. There can be many misconceptions about diamond mining, so we were honored to have Lupita experience our world-class mines firsthand and gain a deep understanding of our firm commitment to sustainability and how De Beers’ natural diamonds drive the development of local communities.
By visiting the magnificent Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve and engaging with some of the outstanding women from the EntreprenHER program, Lupita gained a deeper insight into the significant socio-economic benefits brought by natural diamonds. Through close collaboration with diamond-producing countries and local communities, we have successfully expanded the impact of a series of initiatives. At the same time, we are proud that De Beers natural diamonds can be a genuine force for driving sustainable development.”

Sandrine Conseiller, CEO of the De Beers brand, stated.

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⏰ Published on: July 31, 2024