Popular Nigerian actress and TV host Nancy Isime is under fire after posting a video that sparked intense religious debate. In the now-viral Instagram clip, Isime appears dressed in a flowing white jalamia, seated in a yoga pose, with a large backdrop bearing the inscription Deuteronomy 28:1–13, a Bible passage associated with blessings for obedience.
But while the video may have seemed serene or artistic to some, Solomon Buchi, a well-known social commentator and Christian influencer, has labeled it “syncretic,” “demonic,” and a form of modern-day witchcraft.
“That is not Christianity,” Buchi said in a strongly worded video response. “That is New Age practice, witchcraft, demonic operation, or outright cultism.”
According to Buchi, the video is a textbook example of religious syncretism—the mixing of Christian symbols and scriptures with practices from other spiritual traditions. He specifically pointed out that Isime was seen handling what appeared to be an amethyst, a crystal often associated with New Age spirituality, and strategically placing it at the corners of her setup, which he referred to as “her temple or whatever.”
“There is no difference between this and Christians who are in secret cults,” Buchi asserted. “No difference between this and Christians in the Illuminati. You cannot mix Jesus with anything else.”
Buchi warned his followers and Christians at large to be cautious about the celebrities and influencers they follow, especially as New Age spirituality increasingly permeates pop culture and even church spaces. He cited examples such as the normalization of zodiac signs, horoscopes, tarot reading, palmistry, and other spiritual practices which he believes are incompatible with Biblical Christianity.
He also made a strong case against yoga, which he insists goes beyond physical exercise:
“Yoga is not just stretching. It is a spiritual discipline rooted in Buddhism and Hinduism. You can work out, but don’t call it yoga and think it’s neutral – it’s not.”
Buchi closed his message with a direct call to Christians:
“It must be Jesus alone. Not Jesus and crystals. Not Jesus and zodiac signs. Not Jesus and yoga. If it’s not Jesus only, it’s not Christianity. Wash your hands off it – no matter how trendy or harmless it looks.”
The post has since stirred heated conversations online, with some defending Nancy Isime’s right to express her spirituality artistically, while others applaud Buchi for “calling out spiritual compromise.”
