First Lady of Nigeria “slams” Meghan Markle?

There have been debates whether or nor not Meghan  dressed appropriately during the Nigerian Invictus Games Tour.

On the one hand, many of Meghan’s supporters have said she dressed decent for the trip. Some going so far as to point out that many of the Nigerian dancers were not dressed modestly. Whereas, others have pointed out that dressing in a modest way is common courtesy.

My personal opinion

I think Meghan did look stunning in many of the outfits she chose to wear in Nigeria. Despite growing up in the United States, my family were conservative people who put religion at the forefront. Therefore, I didn’t get to wear certain types of clothes that shown off my body. No shorts above my knees, dresses to my ankles, and certainly no belly showing or spaghetti strapped dress/shirts.

So for me, while I did love the dresses Meghan worn, it wouldn’t have been something I would have worn especially not during an official event like promoting Invictus and/or Archewell Foundation. IMO, I think the yellow dress and white pant suit Meghan worn were perfect for the occasion. I’m not sure who advised her for the other outfits but the pink/peach(?) dress she worn to visit the school was not something I would consider appropriate for the occasion.

We have seen Meghan dressing in a modest manner when she took a trip to New York and visited a school where she read her book “The Bench” to students. So right now, it’s not entirely clear if she or someone on her team may have made a mistake as to what was or wasn’t considered to be appropriate for this trip.

Additionally, there was one picture where Meghan appeared to have been sweaty. Maybe the lighter fabric of her dresses was what she needed to remain cool? I’m not sure.

Towards the end of the Nigerian Tour, Meghan had made a public statement about how she was advised to wear more colors which she had listened to. That means if the Nigerians she was around gently advised her to cover up a bit, I think Meghan would have complied. Since no one seemed to have advised her to dress modestly (as far as the public knows it), I’m not entirely sure what to say.

Enter the First Lady of Nigeria

I have listened to the First Lady of Nigeria’s speech and I don’t think she shade or “slammed” Meghan Markle at all.

Transcript:

The message here is we have to salvage our children. You know, we see the way they dress; they keep forgetting that Nigeria, we are beautiful. The moment you can see what they showcase on the stage, I said we are fashionable. We see what is going on, you know. We are not having a Met Gala and everyone, their nakedness is just everywhere, and the men are well clothed. So we have to do something: tell them the way it is. We don’t accept nakedness in our culture. That is not beautiful; it’s not beautiful at all. And they are all beautiful girls, but they should be confident in who 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 Megan come here looking for Africa? That is something we have to take home with us. We know who we are, and don’t lose who you are. God bless you.

If we take the time to analyze her statement.

1. She tells Nigerians that they are beautiful.
2. She reference the MET Gala where women are standing on the red carpet nearly naked (and in some instances, semi-naked) while the men are in suits and fully clothed. She’s pointing out the double standards here. While women let it all hang out, the men are comfortable with their clothes on. How many men are showing up to the Met Gala with their butts hanging out, shirtless, or their penis on display (but covered)?
3. She points out that young girls are beautiful and don’t need to copy the American film stars. It’s not the Nigerian way, it’s not the Nigerian culture. A girl does not need to be naked to show how confident she is.
4.  She goes on to point out that “They don’t know where they come from.” The “they” she is referring to is the actresses/film stars who are on the Met Gala carpet nearly naked. She’s basically saying that Americans are without culture.

 

So here we get to the final bit:

Why did Megan come here looking for Africa? That is something we have to take home with us. We know who we are, and don’t lose who you are. God bless you.

 

The line just before that question is “They don’t know where they come from.” Meaning the film stars are without a culture. Without a direction that can point them to a way that is decent and wholesome rather than standing on the Met Gala red carpet nearly naked.

Therefore, the question of why Meghan went to Nigeria looking for Africa means that Meghan went to Nigeria looking for CULTURE. Looking for a direction. Looking for what the Nigerians have right now. The beautiful women, the modest clothing, the happiness, and so on.

In my opinion, the Nigerian First Lady didn’t slam Meghan, she slam the American film stars who were on the Met Gala (which Meghan has NEVER been invited to) nearly or semi-naked while the men stood there covered up.