A lady has ignited a heated online debate after calling out what she described as hypocrisy in how Nigerians embrace foreign cultural names while rejecting African traditional ones.
In a viral post, she questioned why names rooted in Greek mythology are often celebrated, while African deity names are treated as taboo or demonic. According to her, it is contradictory for someone to be excited about naming a child after Athena, a Greek goddess, yet feel offended or angry when the name Amadioha, a well-known Igbo deity, is suggested.
She argued that both names originate from traditional belief systems and mythology, yet society labels one as “classy” or “civilised” while condemning the other. The lady stressed that this selective acceptance reflects a deeper issue of cultural inferiority and the lasting impact of colonial influence on how Africans perceive their own heritage and spirituality.
Her statement quickly went viral, drawing mixed reactions from Nigerians across social media. While some users agreed with her, noting the double standards in how African culture is treated, others disagreed, insisting that their rejection of traditional deity names is based strictly on Christian faith rather than self-hate or cultural shame.
The debate continues to spark conversations around culture, religion, identity, and the lingering effects of colonialism on African societies.
Social media reactions
@alpontif: “That’s because there are no active altars to Athena na, en masse…. but there are massive active altars to Amadioha. You don’t want the attention of an active demon. Once you hold on to Christ Jesus, you can only centre God, not gods.”
@Kontrol_Daddy: “Sell Oduduwa’s logo as fashion brand and you begin to see funny religious takes… but it’s okay to wear that horrible Versace logo.”
@one_time_menace: “Well the difference is that I actually liked the Greek name.”
Watch the video below…
Published by Ejoh Caleb
