Former pastor’s daughter explains exit from Christianity to traditional worship

Former pastor’s daughter explains exit from Christianity, citing personal reflection and a shift to traditional worship

A Nigerian fashion designer and jewellery seller, Kaylah Osarume Odemwingie, has explained her decision to leave Christianity for traditional worship, saying the choice followed years of personal reflection and independent study of the Bible.

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Kaylah Osarume Odemwingie, an indigene of Benin in Edo State and daughter of a former Christian pastor, disclosed this in an exclusive interview published on Friday.

According to Kaylah Osarume Odemwingie, she was born into a Christian family and practised the faith throughout her childhood and early adulthood.

She said her views changed at the age of 25 after she began reading the Bible with what she described as an open and questioning mind.

“I was a Christian all my life. I was born into a Christian family. Until I was 25, when I read the Bible with an open mind, and that was just the beginning,” Kaylah Osarume Odemwingie said.

She explained that her father was previously an assistant pastor at Faith Foundation Church of God, while members of his extended family practised traditional religion.

Kaylah Osarume Odemwingie said her parents initially opposed her decision but later accepted it, noting that the transition became easier after she began living independently.

“They did not take it well, but they could not do anything about it,” she said.

Addressing questions about her current beliefs, Kaylah Osarume Odemwingie said she felt drawn to traditional worship long before she openly embraced it, adding that she had been unable to act on that conviction while growing up in a Christian household.

She also commented on what she described as a growing number of young Nigerians questioning organised religion, attributing the trend to increased curiosity and willingness to challenge long-held beliefs.

“This generation has more people who are daring, and they ask questions,” she said.

Kaylah Osarume Odemwingie confirmed that her father no longer serves as a pastor and now attends a different church.

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Her public comments on religion in recent weeks have generated strong reactions on social media, with some users criticising her views while others defended her right to personal belief.

David Okere