"I'm African & Proud" – Belinda Effah Speaks On Controversial AMVCA Dress & Hairstyle

Fast-rising Nollywood actress, Belinda Effah is one of the stars that went for the kill on the red carpet of the just concluded Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards. Rather than toeing the modern looks she decided to go African native style with her dress and hairstyle a little bit of swashbuckling attitude. Her controversial attires was surprising to many and people are still talking about it till today. Explaining what actually informed her choice of style at the event, below is what she told Potpourri;

“My dress and hairstyle were inspired by my root. Growing up my mother used to thread my hair, hence my culture and tradition. Back in the days, the ladies used to either thread or matt their hair which used to accentuate their beauty”  

“I feel as Africans we have lost our sense of identity and prefer to live in denial. We have imported the western culture and tradition such that we now bleach our skin., wear Brazilian hair and fake our accent to belong. I love my culture and tradition. This was just a gentle reminder to Africans that we should appreciate and embrace our own. It was surprising the way a lot of people were shocked that I strutted the red carpet with threaded hair.  

I am very sure if it were to be Beyonce wearing my entire attire the reaction would have been totally different. It only goes to show our problems. The people need to change their mindset. I dread the day we will start importing our own culture and tradition from the western world. We never appreciate what is ours until it’s taken away from us then we start making noise about it. Typical example is the Benin Head. If we treasured it , it would never have been taken away from us.  

A lot of Nigerians don’t go to the museums to appreciate our history. They rather travel out to appreciate others’ history. Man, I could go on and on. Let me just end it by saying I am African and proud” she says,