Nigerian female preacher faces criticism for encouraging women in her congregation to wear wigs instead of their own hair to find husbands.
The preacher, sporting a luxurious, lengthy wig, encouraged the congregation to invest more in wigs and enhance their appearance. She believed that women’s natural hair had no advantages. While her intention might have been to boost women’s self-esteem, her message came across as critical to those who advocate for embracing African natural hair.
The viral video has received numerous comments on Instagram and caught the eye of Nigerian singer Simi. The popular singer behind the hit song “Duduke,” pointed out that in regions where dark-skinned women are highly valued for their beauty, skin-lightening products dominate the skincare market. According to Simi, the issue lies not with individuals but with societal norms and expectations. She stressed that as a public figure, the female pastor had a responsibility to be a role model.
“Even when you hide self-hate inside “good advice”, it’s still self-hate. This is why 90% of skincare products in countries full of beautiful dark skin girls/women are “whitening creams”. And girls are told that the hair that grows out of their hair is not special enough. It’s not that you’re not good enough, it’s that they said you’re not good enough. She’s on the pulpit too. A role model. Lol. Wetin God no send una, nah in una like to dey do”
In the Instagram comments, users criticized the preacher for suggesting that single church ladies couldn’t find a partner if they wore their natural hair. People voiced their disapproval of the preacher’s remarks about church members who embrace their natural hair. Many users highlighted that Western standards and internalized self-doubt influenced the devaluation of the beauty of natural hair. Moreover, several people stated that wearing wigs wouldn’t make a difference in finding or maintaining a good relationship.
Some even resorted to personal attacks on the Nigerian preacher, accusing her of skin bleaching. Many people were perplexed about the relevance of the woman’s message to the teachings of the Bible.
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She referenced Proverbs 18:24, which states, “A man that has friends must show himself friendly.” Using this verse as a basis, she advised her audience to engage socially after enhancing their appearance with wigs & makeup. Additionally, she suggested that it would attract more male attention to the women, saying, “Show yourself friendly, and then you will have friends.“
The preacher pointed out that being a prayerful individual with natural hair wouldn’t be effective in finding a husband. She cautioned against emulating “Kathryn Kuhlman,” an American white woman Christian evangelist who gained fame in the 1960s. She concluded with, “All of you with natural hair—better wear your wig and toss your hair.“