Singer Wahu responds to body shaming in empowering Instagram post

 Kenyan singer Wahu.

Social media platforms like Instagram have revolutionized how we connect and communicate with others, but they have also exposed us to new forms of cruelty, particularly body shaming.

On 21st February 2023, singer Wahu Kagwi posted a photo of herself on Instagram, showing off her participation in the 1st joint committee meeting under the Talanta Hela initiative. She expressed her excitement about the initiative's progress, but what stood out for many people was her weight gain. In her post, Wahu acknowledged that she had gained 22.5kgs since giving birth, and that she had also gained weight during her previous pregnancy.

Unfortunately, Wahu's post was met with negative comments from some of her followers. Many of these comments were distasteful and derogatory, with some people going as far as body shaming her. It's worth noting that most of the negative comments came from women, which highlights the sad reality that women are often their own worst critics and perpetrators of body shaming.

Despite the negative comments, the majority of the comments were positive, with many people expressing their support for Wahu and congratulating her on her achievements.

"I wanted to draw your attention to the 1st couple of minutes of the post. There were quite a number of distasteful comments. Unfortunately, many of these were by women. These were overtaken by overwhelming number of positive comments, again, majority being by women. A classic case of good outweighs the bad," wrote Wahu.

Wahu's response to the body shaming incident was both empowering and inspiring. She reminded everyone that body shaming is not a reflection of the victim's worth, but rather a reflection of the shamer's lack of character and empathy. She also encouraged anyone who has been a victim of hate to stay strong and not let the negativity get to them.

"To anyone who's ever been body shamed, remember, what the shamers say is not a reflection of you, it's really a reflection of the quality of person they are. Eewe uko tu sawa...so don't take it their negativity to heart," said Wahu.

Wahu's experience underscores the need for more education and awareness about the negative impact of body shaming. Body shaming can have severe consequences, including low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. It is vital to recognize that everyone has a unique body shape and size, and it is not anyone's place to judge or shame someone based on their appearance.

"I'm sharing this for us to take note that there is hope for a more positive living environment and also to encourage anyone who's been a victim of any kind of hate," wrote Wahu.