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Chimamanda details her ‘alienation’ from Catholicism, alleges harassment of ladies in church

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Chimamanda Adichie, award-winning author, has detailed what she described as her alienation from Catholicism.

She reaffirmed her reservations on Catholicism in Nigeria in an essay on ‘Fratelli Tutti’, Pope Francis’ encyclical.

Adichie had, in January 2021, explained why she stopped attending Catholic churches in Nigeria. She had also criticised the community’s activities as being “too much about money, fundraising, and thanksgiving”.

In her latest piece, Adichie said she first recoiled from the church when a devout couple in her ancestral hometown was banned from communion because their daughter got married to an Anglican.

“As a teenager, I wore my Catholic identity like a favorite dress, joyfully and reverently. I was raised Catholic, on the campus of the University of Nigeria. We attended a love-filled church run by the Spiritan congregation,” she wrote.

“I was a self-styled Catholic apologist, arguing passionately with the protestant children in defense of such subjects as the Blessed Virgin Mary, tradition, and transubstantiation. Years later, something changed.

“My pious passion withered. I remember my first moment of recoil from the church when a gentle and devout couple was banned from communion because their daughter had married an Anglican.

“It felt to me not only uncharitable but unnecessarily so, as did other subsequent incidents, such as poor people who were refused burials because they owed money to the church.

“These happened in my ancestral hometown, in a provincial parish far from the university campus where I grew up. But after the Spiritans left, an uncharitable chill also descended on my university church.”

Adichie claimed women were often harassed and made to feel uncomfortable.

“Women of all ages were often harassed, men barring their entry into the church unless they wrapped themselves in shawls to hide their shoulders and arms (which apparently would cause men in the church to sin),” she added.

“Entire homilies were dedicated to the wiles and evils of women. How unsettling to sit through Mass feeling as though one, simply by being born female, had become inherently guilty of a crime.

“My alienation deepened; I had become a person in a place that my spirit had outgrown. Even if I attended Mass from time to time, it brought no meaning. And I’ve come to believe that meaning is what makes life worthwhile.”

‘We begged, negotiated for date’ — Chimamanda faults church’s handling of parents’ burial

In June 2020, Adichie mourned James, her father, who died of an illness for which he was admitted to a hospital. Ifeoma, her mum, would also pass away — eight months later — leaving the family in yet another round of grief.

In her essay, the author faulted the Church’s handling of her parents’ burials, saying her family had to beg for dates.

“My family’s experiences during my parents’ funerals served to reaffirm, if not renew, my reservations about the Nigerian church. So much could have been handled with compassion for the grieving but was not,” she said.

“So many opportunities to show dignity were left unused. Our communication with the local church was more of an exercise in priestly power than anything else; we begged and negotiated for a suitable funeral date, with exaggerated but insincere deference shown to the priest lest he changes his mind and not agree to the funeral.

“At the Thanksgiving Mass – a strange concept, as giving thanks was the last thing I felt like doing a day after the funeral – my siblings and I were seated in the front pews, all wearing purple, my mother’s favorite color, all still in shocked disbelief to have buried her so soon after my father.”

‘Catholic priest trivialised my mum’s death with criticism amid funeral’

Adichie said her grief-immersed self was shocked when the parish priest, standing at the altar, issued a rejoinder during her mother’s funeral in response to her criticism of Catholicism in Nigeria.

“I was immersed in sadness and didn’t realize right away when the parish priest began to criticize me about a press interview I had given a few months before. In that interview, I spoke of the church’s focus on money,” she said.

“I have seen church doors locked to prevent people from leaving during fundraisings. I watched a priest announce his account details to a funeral congregation and then prance about the altar, phone in hand, waiting for alerts.

“After the interview, there was both criticism and support of my views. But I had not given that interview any thought in months. I was shocked by the parish priest standing at the altar and issuing a rejoinder, during my mother’s funeral, in terms so petty and so ill-timed as to trivialize the crushing enormity of her death.”

Towards the end of her piece, she advocated churches where giving isn’t backed by threat or fear of embarrassment. The author also called for a shift away from what she termed the church’s “relentless prioritizing of law over love”.

Celebrities

Why would you post pictures in your underwear? – Portable out calls Tiwa Savage

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Nigerian singer Portable has raked reactions on social media after calling Tiwa Savage out for posting pictures in her underwear at 40 years old.

During his recent TikTok live stream, Portable, who is known for his outspoken personality, questioned the appropriateness of Tiwa’s posts, particularly given her status as a mother and her age.

“I’ve noticed something; someone needs to talk to Tiwa Savage, please. Tell her to calm down o. I’ve been listening to her music since I was small now I’m a father and mummy Tiwa savage is still posting pictures in her underwear. Only panties? Is it good for a mum to post pictures in her underwear?”

Despite his criticism, Portable admitted Tiwa Savage appeals to him, describing her as a “bad girl” who has maintained her appeal since her younger years.

“E dey enter my eye, make I no lie. The day I met Tiwa Savage and I hugged her, it felt like I hugged a mermaid and was being swept away. But someone should tell her to calm down with the naked outfits.”

In between hysterical laughter, the singer added, “Tiwa Savage, I swear to God, you’re appealing to me. you’ve been bad since you were 19 and you’re still a bad girl at 40, you’re still wearing panties at 40.”

His remarks sparked reactions from social media users, with some slamming him and others expressing their support for his views.

An outraged Instagram user asked, “What level of disrespect is this?”

“I actually don’t think he means any harm. He’s just not emotionally intelligent. So he lacks the methodology to communicate his message appropriately. He’s basically saying Tiwa’s dress sense is becoming ‘fighting temptation’ in a nutshell,” another person wrote.

Another comment read, “He should be shut.up..Tiwa savage is an entertainer…if nicki minaj did the same u would not talk.”

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AY Makun, Basketmouth discuss their 17-year feud

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AY Makun and Basketmouth have made their first public appearance together, marking a new chapter after their 17-year feud.

The rift between the two prominent comedians began in 2006 over unpaid performance fees and intensified in 2022, with both avoiding each other publicly.

In March 2023, AY claimed Basketmouth had yet to pay him for a show he anchored for him. Responding, Basketmouth described his colleague’s account of the incident as “lies”.

However, following Basketmouth’s apology in 2023, both comedians have put aside their differences.

In the latest episode of the ‘Glass House with AY‘ podcast, the comedian argued he did not get the money for the show while Basketmouth maintained that he was paid.

AY also shared insights into his prolonged rift with Basketmouth.

“I did not know when the fight started. I just noticed it started. Every day I wake up thinking it is a normal thing, boys will be boys and like that, it grew into several years,” he said.

“Then the third year, it seems like people were spreading more rumours about the feud till it lasted that long. It lasted too long”.

AY emphasised the feud’s impact on younger comedians. “Our feud caused some damages because in a way we were like providers for people,” he said.

Basketmouth added: “Most times people swear allegiance by default. So when we were not on good terms some people made it their business”.

“…A comedian called me to tell me AY reached out to him for a gig and was asking if it was okay to work with AY. I told him it was okay and I was happy it happened because people would know it was okay to work for either of us because it was about more money and opportunities.

“There was a guy who picked a side and came at me. Now that we are cool, he would be confused. It is collaboration over competition.”

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Celebrities

Paul Okoye accuses Peter of song theft, vows to release ‘original version’

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Paul ‘Rudeboy’ Okoye, the Nigerian singer, has accused Peter ‘Mr P’ Okoye, his twin brother, over alleged intellectual property theft.

Mr P recently released the single ‘Winning’ — a few months after the brothers confirmed that Psquare, their shared music group, no longer exists.

However, in a recent Instagram post, Rudeboy claimed that the song was his, arguing that it was supposed to feature in his forthcoming album. He also alleged the producer hijacked the track.

“Written and sang by Rudeboy. Produced by same producer. Now how come? Now am I supposed to release another version? Mr Producer, your case is for another day,” he wrote.

“Just a simple thing, bring 6 songs, let me bring 6 songs. I submitted 6 songs to the so-called management. Why re-singing my own song? word for word. Song that was supposed to be in my album next year June.”

In another post, the singer vowed to release “original versions of any copied songs”, adding that “the days of manipulation are over”.

“The days of manipulation are over. And to the management, make I hear any song wey na only me sing, I go release the original version. Oloriburuku! Music is not that hard,” he wrote.

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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