It has been weeks since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited Nigeria, on their first tour since leaving the Firm.
Meghan and Harry’s successful tour of the South African country continues to generate positive news and some controversy.
This weekend, a video of the country’s first lady’s speech in which she mentioned Meghan went viral and has become a topic of debate.
This mention led to mixed reactions on social media, with some defending and others criticizing the Duchess of Sussex.
Nigerian First Lady’s Speech on Meghan Markle
During their trip, Meghan and Prince Harry spent time with school children and celebrated the Invictus Games in Nigeria.
Now, a video surfaced showing Nigeria’s first lady, Oluremi Tinubu, talking about the fashion choices of young Nigerian women.
She expressed that Nigerian culture does not accept revealing clothing and emphasized the importance of cultural confidence.
In her speech, Tinubu mentioned that Nigerian women should be proud of their heritage instead of trying to imitate American film stars.
She questioned why Meghan visited Nigeria, suggesting that Nigerians should hold on to their identity.
“They are all beautiful girls but they should be confident to know they are. They don’t want to be like…even they are mimicking and trying to emulate film stars from America. They don’t know where they come from. Why did Meghan come here looking for Africa? That is something we have to take home with. We know who we are and don’t lose who you are,” she said.
This speech went viral on X (formerly Twitter) with the comment “When the First Lady of Nigeria puts your name, nakedness and ignorance about your identity in the same sentence…Ouch!!!,” which sparked a lot of attention.
The post had 950,000 views and 4,000 likes, but opinions were divided on whether Tinubu’s comment was a criticism of Meghan.
When the First Lady of Nigeria puts your name, nakedness and ignorance about your identity in the same sentence…
Ouch!!! pic.twitter.com/qP5ubpEyNL— Melanated Mona (@Melanated_Mona) May 25, 2024
Supporters of Meghan argued that Tinubu’s message was about the importance of Nigerian culture, suggesting that Meghan’s visit highlighted the country’s powerful traditions.
They felt Tinubu encouraged Nigerian women to preserve their culture rather than copy Hollywood styles.
Some critics, however, interpreted the speech as a critique of Meghan’s outfits during her visit, suggesting they were not appropriate compared to traditional Nigerian attire.
One person even suggested that if Meghan wanted to dress revealingly, she should attend events like the Met Gala, which is known for its bold fashion choices.
Despite the interpretations, Tinubu did not directly comment on Meghan’s clothing. She did, however, criticize the Met Gala, stating that such styles do not align with Nigerian values.
In her speech, Tinubu stressed the need to guide young Nigerians on proper dressing, saying that Nigeria is a beautiful country with its own sense of fashion.
Meghan was not at the Met Gala, and there is no evidence that Tinubu was referring to Meghan’s attire in Nigeria.
The speech was more about encouraging Nigerians to uphold their cultural standards in fashion.