Ghana News
“Kuriya, Kuriya From Temu”: Nigerians Seen Copying Ghana’s Viral Shea Butter Trend
A new video from a Lagos-based spa has ignited a fierce cultural debate across West African social media, with Ghanaians sharply accusing their Nigerian neighbours of appropriating the now-iconic “Kuriya Kuriya” shea butter massage experience.
The controversy, which erupted on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, centers on a promotional video from Glee Spa in Lagos.
In the footage, four Nigerian women dressed in traditional cloth—which many observers identified as Ghanaian Kente—are seen extolling the benefits of shea butter, introducing the product in various Nigerian languages, and administering massages using calabashes filled with the golden butter.
For countless Ghanaians online, the visual echoes of Hamamat Montia’s Shea Butter Museum were impossible to ignore.
The Original: How a Museum Became a Phenomenon
The Shea Butter Museum, owned by former beauty queen and entrepreneur Hamamat Montia, became an international sensation in January 2026.
The catalyst was a visit from American livestreamer iShowSpeed, whose enthusiastic reception of the “Kuriya Kuriya” massage—a rhythmic, full-body treatment using shea butter—sent the video viral.
The impact was seismic. The museum was suddenly fully booked for the first half of the year. International celebrities, including Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Davido and Jamaican dancehall icon Popcaan, made pilgrimages to experience the treatment for themselves.
Hamamat herself was subsequently recognized by Ghana’s Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts as an official Ambassador for Shea Butter, cementing the museum’s status as a premier cultural attraction.
“Copycats” or Cultural Evolution?
The emergence of the Glee Spa video has been met with a wave of accusations from Ghanaians who see it as a direct imitation.
“Hamamat really paved the way, now look at the Nigerians too and they’re even wearing kente,” one user, @al_varo777, posted on X (formerly Twitter), capturing the sentiment of many.
Others were less measured in their criticism.
Comments ranged from the sardonic—”Kuriya, Kuriya from Temu”—to the outright dismissive: “Nigerians like copying Ghanaian too much.”
Some warned of a future where the origins of the trend might be forgotten.
“After 5 years, they’ll start insinuating their shea butter massage is the best,” one user predicted. Another added, “Nigerians will see you do something and not support you but rather copy it. They lack creativity but will open their stinking mouths to say others envy them.”
The criticism extended to the aesthetic choices in the video. Several commenters pointed out that the attendants were dressed in what appeared to be Kente cloth, a fabric with deep cultural significance to the Akan people of Ghana.
“This one no be spa oo na brothel,” one user, @space_cowboy_gh, commented, suggesting the Nigerian execution lacked authenticity.
Nigerian Defenders Push Back
Not all reactions were one-sided. Some Nigerian social media users and commenters defended the spa, advancing a counter-argument rooted in shared heritage.
Their core contention is simple: shea butter is not exclusively Ghanaian. The shea tree grows across the West African savanna belt, and its butter has been used for centuries by numerous ethnic groups for skincare, cooking, and medicinal purposes. From this perspective, a Nigerian business using shea butter is not copying Ghana; it is simply utilizing a regional resource.
Furthermore, some defenders argued that the concept of a spa massage using natural ingredients is not proprietary to any single nation. They suggested that the Ghanaian outrage reflects a possessive attitude toward a common cultural and natural asset.
The Politics of Cultural Influence
The debate touches on a sensitive nerve in the long-standing cultural rivalry between Ghana and Nigeria. As West Africa’s two most influential entertainment and cultural powerhouses, the flow of influence between them is often a subject of intense scrutiny.
Ghanaians have long complained that their innovations in music, fashion, and now wellness are sometimes adopted by their larger neighbor without credit. The phrase “original copy cats” appeared repeatedly in the social media discourse.
Yet, as one user, @espioj, offered a more measured perspective: “People only copy success. Nobody copies failure.” This comment suggests that the Nigerian spa’s decision to feature a shea butter massage may simply be a market response to a trend that has demonstrably captured global attention.
A Shared Resource, Distinct Presentations
At the heart of the controversy lies a nuanced question: when does cultural participation become cultural appropriation?
Shea butter itself is undeniably a shared heritage. But the specific presentation—the rhythmic chanting of “Kuriya Kuriya,” the use of calabashes in a choreographed massage, the association with a particular museum and ambassador—is more distinctly Ghanaian, and specifically tied to Hamamat Montia’s brand.
The Glee Spa video does feature elements that echo this specific presentation, particularly the visual of multiple women in traditional cloth working with calabashes. However, the incorporation of Nigerian languages and the framing as a local Lagos business also represent an attempt to indigenize the concept.
Cultural Tourism and Economic Opportunity
Beyond the social media outrage, the controversy underscores a significant economic reality: culture sells. The global attention generated by iShowSpeed’s visit has created a new market for shea butter experiences, and entrepreneurs across the region are naturally seeking to participate.
For Ghana, the challenge will be to capitalize on its first-mover advantage and establish the Shea Butter Museum as the definitive, authentic destination—much as the country has done with its slave castles and festivals. For Nigeria, the opportunity lies in developing its own distinct shea butter experiences that draw on local traditions without appearing imitative.
In a decisive move to fulfill President John Dramani Mahama’s digital transformation agenda, the government has successfully pressured the nation’s leading telecommunications operators into slashing broadband prices and increasing data allocations, marking a major political and policy victory for the administration.
Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, announced the sweeping changes during the Government Accountability Series in Accra on Monday, framing the outcome as a direct result of the government’s successful negotiation tactics and strong-arm leverage over the telecom sector.
The Minister revealed that MTN, facing the sharpest government intervention, increased its mobile data volumes by 15 per cent, while Telecel and AirtelTigo also bowed to pressure, increasing theirs by 10 per cent.
Most notably, MTN’s fibre broadband tariffs have been dramatically revised. The 100 Mbps unlimited package has been slashed from GH¢987 to GH¢299 per month, representing one of the largest residential broadband price reductions in recent years and a massive 70% drop in cost for consumers.
Presenting the reductions as a fulfillment of the Mahama administration’s core policy promises, Minister George emphasized that the interventions are part of a broader mission to force the private sector to align with the government’s public interest goals.
“These interventions form part of President Mahama’s digital transformation agenda to make internet access more affordable and expand opportunities for education, business and innovation,” Mr George stated.
He added that the government’s objective is to ensure that digital connectivity becomes a tool for inclusive economic growth rather than a luxury available to only a few, directly warning the telecom giants that the state will not tolerate the exclusion of ordinary Ghanaians from the digital economy.
The Minister assured Ghanaians that his Ministry will continue to exert regulatory and negotiating pressure to improve digital infrastructure, expand access to reliable, high-speed internet, and ensure that the government remains the ultimate arbiter of affordability for the citizenry.
Ghana News
Buckingham Palace Responds to Jamaica’s $10 Billion Reparations Demand, But the UK Government’s Wallet Remains Shut
A historic diplomatic maneuver that highlights the stark contrast between UK’s royal sympathy and governmental policy has been triggered by Jamaica’s official petition to King Charles III on Monday, September 7, 2026.
The petition formally requests that the UK’s highest court review the legality of the transatlantic slave trade and whether Britain has a legal obligation to pay reparations.
However, while Buckingham Palace has pledged its engagement with the process, the United Kingdom government immediately reiterated its firm position that its “wallet remains shut”.
Led by Jamaica’s Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, the delegation filed the petition in London, marking the first time a Commonwealth country has utilized this specific legal route to advance the cause of reparatory justice.
The petition seeks an advisory opinion from the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC), Jamaica’s highest court of appeal based in London, on three pivotal questions: whether the enslavement of Africans in Jamaica was legal under English common law, whether it breached international law, and whether the UK is currently legally obligated to provide a remedy for the harm caused.
While initial reports suggested Jamaica was seeking a $10 billion settlement, Minister Grange clarified to journalists that no specific sum is attached to the petition; instead, it aims to establish a legal foundation for determining what, if anything, is owed.
The Royal Response
The response from Buckingham Palace was characterized by procedural engagement coupled with royal distance. Contrary to some initial headlines, King Charles III—who is currently in Scotland and was not present for the delivery—will not personally receive the petition.
A palace spokesperson clarified that the process requires the petition to be lodged directly with the Judicial Committee under Section 4 of the 1833 Act, rather than being handed to the King.
The spokesperson emphasized that the King has “on many occasions expressed his personal and wholehearted commitment to promoting greater understanding around the issue of slavery and finding ways to address historic wrongs for the benefit of communities today”.
The Palace also confirmed that the Jamaican representatives would be received by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for bilateral discussions.
The Government’s Hardline Stance
While the Palace signaled engagement, the response from the British government was unequivocal and immediate. A spokesperson for Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s Downing Street office stated, “The UK does not and will not pay reparations”.
The spokesperson added, “The transatlantic slave trade was abhorrent and of course it’s right that we acknowledge the wrongs of the past, but we’ll continue to face forward and work with other countries on our current shared challenges”.
This stance remains unchanged despite recent acknowledgements that the UK significantly benefitted from the trade, and the fact that British institutions, such as the Church of England, have previously pledged funds to address their historical links.
A Historical Irony
The refusal comes against a backdrop of historical precedent that critics and advocates often highlight. In 1833, the British government agreed to a compensation package of £20 million (worth approximately $2.6 billion today) to be paid to British slave owners for the “loss of their property” after the abolition of slavery legislation.
“Encouraged” but Firm
Despite the government’s refusal to entertain financial compensation, Minister Grange expressed optimism about the engagement from Buckingham Palace.
“We’re not pre-empting the process, but we are encouraged,” she told Reuters, noting the Palace’s role in ensuring the petition was properly lodged through the Governor-General.
The move is seen as a significant escalation in the wider Caribbean reparations campaign. By seeking a legal opinion, Jamaica aims to bypass the political impasse that has blocked progress at Commonwealth summits.
If the JCPC rules in Jamaica’s favor, it could provide a powerful legal platform not only for Jamaica but for other former British colonies in the Caribbean demanding reparations, potentially paving the way for litigation in British courts.
Here are the top headline stories pulled from the front pages of the provided Ghanaian newspapers.
The Dispatch
- Main: GHANA MUST KEEP TWO TERM PREZ LIMITS – ASIEDU NKETIA
- Secondary: IGP YOHUNO PROMOTES SEVEN POLICE OFFICERS WHO ARRESTED SUSPECTS IN CONNECTION WITH MURDER
- Also: MY JOURNEY FROM RUNNING MATE TO FORMER VEEP IS BY GOD’S DIVINE WILL – DR. BAWUMIA; BLACK STARS COACH QUEIROS TO STAY; REV. STEPHEN WENGAM LAUNCHES THE 10TH TRIENNIAL CONGRESS…
The Hawk Newspaper
- Main: MAHAMA DUMPS ASHIE MOORE (Over ‘Incompetence’ At Sankofa Gold)
- Secondary: FORMER CDS OFFERS BOOZ AND CASH TO KILL STORY; MAHAMA, OPEN YOUR EYES! – Obiri Boahen’s Chilling Warning: NPP ‘Mulling Evil’; SILENT THEN. OUTRAGED NOW – Anin-Yeboah’s Praise Exposes Critics’ Double Standards
The Overseer
- Main: MAHAMA SACKS NDC ‘SERIAL TROUBLEMAKER’ ASHIE-MOORE FROM SANKOFA GOLD
- Secondary: Free Primary Healthcare To Reach All 216 Districts By 2027 – Akandoh; Mahama Has Mobilized $1.7bn For Accra-Kumasi Expressway – Tamakloe; Ato Forson Thanks Constituents For 18 Years Of Support
The New Trust
- Main: Over 300k candidates chose category A schools despite 76,417 vacancies – Education Ministry
- Secondary: Ashanti NPP Women’s Wing cautions “Prophet” Owusu Bempah over attacks on Ayew Afriyie & Bawumia; Govt spent GH¢49.7m on 1,964 Ghanaians evacuated from SA – Ablakwa reveals; COKA swears in appointed deputy regional executives & others…urges them to work hard in unity
The National Enquirer
- Main: DON’T PAY ANYONE FOR SHS PLACEMENT – Dr. Apaak warns parents
- Secondary: National Security Nabs Notorious Illicit Drugs Pusher; TOR Seeks Strategic Int’l Partners; Minerals Commission Pushes Deeper Ghana-UK Mining Cooperation; NPA Gears Up – Takes petroleum safety campaign to Fetu Afahye in Cape Coast
The Spyder
- Main: Ayariga’s Cathedral Slip-Up: Chieftaincy Minister Tenure Starts on Wrong Footing
- Secondary: Controversial ‘Witches Conference’ Set for Accra; Former Army Boss’ Cash-And-Booze Trap Fails – Oppong-Peprah’s Journalist Trap Lands Him in Trouble; Do the Math: Students are Getting Smarter in Numbers, Dumber in Words – WAEC
Daily Graphic
- Main: Free Primary Healthcare goes live (Over 4,500 facilities ready • 135 Districts implement policy)
- Secondary: 53,000 Grade 9 BECE graduates given lifeline – They can do self-placement; Amansie Community Bank mobilises GH¢1bn deposits – Highest in Ashanti Region for 2025
Economy Times
- Main: BoG develops regulatory framework for cedi-backed stablecoins
- Secondary: Ghana’s 4-Year Bond issuance settles at 12% – …govt accepts bids of GH¢3.15 billion; Cedi turnaround delivers GH¢23.7bn FX upswing for SOEs
Day Break (Dated September 2, 2026)
- Main: Mahama Sued – …Over Council of State Vacancy
- Secondary: 1 In 4 Fibre Cuts By Galamsey – …Sam George Reveals; Be Like Zijin! – …Armah Buah Charges Ghanaian Mining Companies; Galamsey To Worsen – …Without Right Intelligence Architecture
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