Toyin Abraham Defends Viral Kneeling Video: ‘Kneeling Is Culture, Not Shame
Nollywood actress Toyin Abraham has responded to criticism over a viral video showing her kneeling to greet billionaire businessman Rasaq Okoya and his wife, Shade Okoya, at a recent event.
The clip, which surfaced on Instagram and X late Thursday, shows Abraham approaching the couple and dropping to her knees in a traditional Yoruba gesture of respect. Within hours, the video split Nigerian social media.
Some users praised her as “well-raised” and “cultural,” while others accused her of “eye-service” and “belittling herself for status,” arguing that celebrities should not kneel for wealthy individuals.
By Friday, April 11, Abraham addressed the backlash directly on her Instagram story.
“Kneeling is culture, not shame. I was raised to respect elders. It has nothing to do with money or status. Let’s not lose our values because of social media,” she wrote.
The response reignited a long-running national debate about Yoruba greetings, generational values, and the line between respect and performative humility. Hashtags #ToyinAbraham and #KneelingDebate trended across X NG through Saturday morning.
Cultural commentators noted that kneeling and prostrating remain standard greetings for women and men in Yoruba tradition, especially toward elders, regardless of wealth. Critics countered that the power dynamic changes when the elder is also a billionaire and the person kneeling is a public figure, saying it reinforces class worship.
Abraham, one of Nollywood’s most bankable stars and producers, has not deleted her statement. The Okoya family has not publicly commented on the video.
