Nollywood actress Toyin Abraham Ajeyemi has taken to her social media page to respond to criticism over her habit of kneeling to greet elders, describing the gesture as a reflection of her upbringing and cultural heritage rather than performative flattery.
The actress addressed conflicting responses to a widely shared video from former Ogun State governor Otunba Gbenga Daniel’s birthday celebration in a message posted on social media on Saturday.
Some critics referred to her kneeling greeting to billionaire industrialist Razaq Okoya, his wife Shade Okoya, and other elderly guests as “Abosi,” a Yoruba term that implies eye service or insincerity.
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Reacting to the claims, Abraham said her actions are rooted in respect for tradition and values instilled in her from a young age.
“I have seen the various opinions regarding the manner in which I greeted some elders at a recent event. It gives me pause to reflect on when we began to drift from our culture and traditions, to the point where kneeling as we were taught is now described as ‘Abosi’.
“I, Toyin Abraham Ajeyemi, was raised to kneel when greeting those older than me. It is a value deeply rooted in who I am, and one I will continue to uphold with pride,” she wrote.
She further committed to transmitting these values to younger generations, framing her stance as an effort to preserve Nigeria’s cultural heritage in the face of modernisation and shifting social norms.
“As a commitment to our heritage, I will remain intentional about passing these values on to the younger generations, in order to preserve and honour our culture,” she added.
