They’re Baaack! Kenya Dolls From The 90s Are Making A Big Return

October 5th, 2012 - By MN Editor

From BlackVoices

Remember the Kenya dolls from the 90s that captured nearly every little brown girl’s heart? Well, they’re back!

Kenya first hit shelves in 1992 and became an overnight success – consistently selling out in stores across the country and ultimately becoming one of the cult favorite toys of the decade. Created to provide girls of color with a toy that reflected their appearance (both their skin tone and features) and could be used as a tool to instill self-esteem, the dolls are arguably just as important today as they were then.

We can almost hear the squeals of joy coming from the countless black women in their 20s as they read this post and remember their childhood days with Kenya in tow.

Read more at  BlackVoices

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  • niki

    My sister and I had Kenya dolls and we loved them dearly. I will be buying these for my daughter wish they had a boy kenya so my son could carry one around too. He loves babies, I know in twenty years or more he will make a fantastic father.

  • K. Lee

    I’m almost 29, I still have my Kenya doll, and I bought my 7 year old daughter one about 4 years ago. You can’t go wrong with Kenya!

  • kickash

    i used to have one of these. If they can bring back that horrifying Furby, they can bring back a nice toy like this.

  • MZB

    I AM THAT LITTLE BLACK GIRL IN HER 20S SQUEEELING!!!! I CANT WAIT TO BUY ONE FOR ALL MY NIECES AND MY FUTURE DAUGHTER!!

  • Imansaray_23

    I’m 32 and I still have one

  • KJ23

    I LOOOOOOOVVVVVVEEEEEEDDDDDDD MY KENYA DOLL!!!!! I tried so hard to save her for when I have children of my own, but my father made me throw her away when we moved!!! UGH!!!! MEMORIES!!!!!

  • L-Boogie

    I still remember the song! Yeah, I used to love this doll especially the lotion that used to come with it. Man, I was using that in my own hair. LOL!

  • FromUR2UB

    Good to know, ’cause I’ll never buy another Barbie. They’re new ‘Barbie Dolls of the World’ collection live in a world without black people. Not a African or Caribbean doll in the bunch. When the web site opens to a world map, it’s skipping all over place…over continents and countries known for black populations. At first, I was going to write them and ask what that’s about. Then figured, they’d either ignore the email or give what would ultimately be a BS answer. Eh, forget it. I’ll just never buy their dolls again.

    • IllyPhilly

      I has this conversation way back when on this site. Even the fact that Barbie seems to only come in blonde hair blue eyes is crazy cuz I remember Barbie had friends named Nikki, Teresa, and Lisa. Her Black, Spanish, and Asian counterparts. They got lost in the, wait no they just been blatantly ignored. I’m with you!

      • FromUR2UB

        Blatant, is right. They had the black Christie, and her boyfriend, Brad, dolls when I was a kid, and that was over 40 years ago! But, now we don’t exist…in an international collection?!? Then our money shouldn’t exist either.

  • FAMURattler85

    Omg! That was my favorite doll growing up

  • Miss Anonymous

    Yesss! I had a Kenya doll and played with her to death. I even learned the most important lesson in life that dolls hair dont grow back after cutting her some too short bangs. #memories

  • http://www.facebook.com/deangala.miller DeAnga’la Sugafreesprite Mille

    I just got super excited yay! I miss my doll she looked just like me and I named her Dee dee Jr lol!

  • guest510

    Yayyyyyyy!!!! I’ve been looking for this doll for years. going to buy my niece one

  • IllyPhilly

    Aaaaaaah!! F Barbie! I was just looking for my old doll in the basement-I only got one from a garage sale back then cuz we were BROKE!!! She’s was mines when she came home Her name was Waverly Latifah Jones and all her clothes were made out of socks. LOL, yes I just had a flashback.

    • guest510

      Girl my Barbie had a whole wardrobe made from socks! Tube tops, dresses, skirts…hairbands. Being broke teaches you innovation LOL

      • IllyPhilly

        Lol!YES!!

  • Miss K

    I never owned one, but I love the idea. Now for the age old question of hair…

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