Benson Idahosa’s Daughter Speaks - “I Am Not My Father”

Benson Idahosa’s daughter has broken her silence, and her words are stirring debate. Ratiande Idahosa, daughter of the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa, recently shared views on religion and culture that differ sharply from her parents’ legacy. While many expected her to follow the ministry path, she chose a different direction entirely.

Unlike her late father, the pioneer of Pentecostalism in Nigeria, and her mother Margaret Idahosa, Ratiande is not a pastor or preacher. She has stayed out of church work and public ministry. That low profile is why many Nigerians did not even know she existed until now. Her stance shows a clear generational shift in belief and identity.

In her comments, Ratiande argued that religion and culture are deeply intertwined. She cited examples: Indians with Hinduism, Arabs with Islam. According to her, Christianity does not align with African culture because Africans had to strip away their identity to accept it. “How can we truly worship a God that doesn’t look, talk, or act like us?” she asked.

She went further to say that other civilizations adapted religion to fit their culture. Europeans created a version of Judaism that became Christianity. Persians shaped Islam to reflect their culture. But for Africans, she believes Christianity was imposed without cultural adaptation. That, she says, is why she rejected it.

“I am unapologetically African,” Ratiande declared. “I believe in the efficacy of ancestors. African spirituality does it for me. I pour libation to my ancestors. I am too conscious to worship a foreign god.” Her words have sparked conversations online about faith, culture, and identity in modern Africa.