Tanzanian gospel singer Christina Shusho, known for her hit song “Shusha Nyavu,” recently took to social media to share an important message with her followers.

She began by advising people on how to receive her message, saying, “This is for the common mwananchi. For the people, by the people. Punguza makeup.”

Shusho’s message centred around the struggle many women face in being their authentic selves, often fearing rejection or disapproval from others.

She revealed that she had refrained from wearing makeup for seven days of prayer and had been reflecting on the significance of this act.

“I have time and I want to pass on a message. I haven’t done my makeup because of seven days of prayer.

And I began to think, you know, sometimes it’s not necessary to wear makeup. Because in our lives today, we put on makeup.

Not just face makeup. This is what I mean, not just face makeup.

Even in life, some people put makeup on their character, and their businesses, hiding everything. Wearing makeup means you’re hiding something.”

Shusho explained that this tendency to hide behind makeup prevents people from being genuine.

“When a woman wears makeup, she is often hiding flaws, maybe it’s old age, wrinkles, she’s hiding things that aren’t right on her face.

So she looks good, right? Similarly, people are hiding their behaviour under makeup.

When they come in front of people, they put on a lot of makeup on their character, and if you catch them off guard, without the makeup on their character, you won’t believe what you see.”

She urged her followers to strive for authenticity by acknowledging both internal and external influences. “You might say, ‘Is this the person I know, or should I wait for someone else?’ Just like we wait for Jesus. Makeup is good in all things, but it’s also important to make an effort to live without makeup.

Build a face that can go without makeup someday, and you will be okay. Then build a character that doesn’t need makeup to appear good.”

Christina Shusho continued, “You can live without makeup on your character.

Don’t put on things that make you look good when you know deep down, some of your behaviours are not good. But when you go in front of people, you put makeup on your character.

So people think you’re a good person, but deep inside, in your secret intentions, you know something is wrong with you.”

She concluded by advising on the value of genuine relationships. “So learn to live a life that is real, without makeup.

Your character, your real self, without makeup. Your behaviour, is real, without makeup. And your work too, be real. What you say should be what you mean, not makeup.

Some people love talking while wearing makeup, they say one thing but do another. It’s so boring. But try not to put makeup on your face. God bless you.”