I’m a true African woman-Menaye Donkor

Menaye Donkor, wife of Black Stars midfielder Sulley Ali Muntari is surprised at suggestions in some quarters that she is not African.

This suggestion is not new to her but what has re-ignited the debate is Menaye’s appearance on the cover of a new magazine called the “New African Woman.”

The Facebook page of the magazine has been flooded with comments after an editor of another magazine criticized the publishers of the ‘New African Woman’ for putting a 'white' girl on the cover of the magazine.

The editor wrote "hello Regina ...to tell u the truth ...it (the cover) is not representative to black beauty African beauty, the major criticism we have is that the girl don t look like black African girls, too perfect and white, I FIND IT not very nice... putting perfect looking girls in front of covers !" The comment has angered many who know Menaye as a true and true African woman raised by Ghanaian parents.

The Milan-based Manaye Donkor, a model and philanthropist, has also been unhappy about the comment and has reiterated the fact that she is a true African woman.

"I am surprised to hear such ignorant remarks in this modern world that we live in. I thought people were much more educated and not so shallow minded to generalize and make such comments. My question then sums up to: What African is? And How an African should look? I am a true African woman born and raised in Ghana by Ghanaian parents and amazing Ghanaian heritage. I therefore cannot understand why the colour of my skin would make me less of a good role model for other African women. It doesn’t matter how dark or light my skin is, I’m proud of my culture and I am proud to be representing Africa.

Are we forgetting there are 54 countries in Africa and not all the people are dark skinned as it varies across the continent with some populations naturally darker than others. The focus here should not be the colour of one’s skin or how they look but rather how we as Africans can unite to build a stronger future for our children."

Menaye Donkor was born in 1981. She was brought up by her parents in Accra, Ghana, and is the youngest of seven siblings with four brothers and two sisters. At the age of seven Menaye inherited the job title of “Royal Stool Bearer” for her paternal grandmother, who is the Queen mother of Agona Asafo.

She graduated with honors in marketing from York University in Toronto, Canada. In 2006 Menaye met Black Stars and Milan footballer, Sulley Muntari, at the World Cup finals in Germany. They became a couple the following year and she began managing his brand under her management company MENMUN Ltd. In 2010 the pair got married in Accra on Christmas Day.

Her business interests are primarily in property and she runs her own property development company, Zafra ltd, which focuses on renting out and developing properties in Ghana’s capital, Accra. Menaye intends to branch out into the food and entertainment industry.