In a recent TikTok video, Kenyan comedian Elsa Majimbo has stirred up a heated debate by asserting that sending money to family members in rural areas from cities or abroad is a sign of negligence.
Living in the United States, Majimbo expressed her disdain for the expectation placed on individuals who work hard to support their extended families back home.
Majimbo shared her perspective, reflecting on her own family experiences.
“Sending money to extended family members at home is something that is very common in many families in Africa, and which I hate. I saw my father doing that with his brothers and I don’t even know anyone from the extended family,” she stated, emphasizing his unwillingness to continue this tradition.
The comedian boldly declared, “I’m ready to let a family member who asks me for money suffer from hunger to death instead of giving them money.”
She criticized the mindset that suggests a family member in a better financial position should support others, arguing that it perpetuates dependency rather than encouraging self-sufficiency.
Majimbo urged those with relatives struggling in rural areas to take initiative themselves instead of relying on family members abroad.
“You are crying to me that they are starving. Yes, they are starving due to your negligence. Wake up and look for a job,” she advised, insisting that the responsibility should lie with those who are in need rather than those who have left home for work.
Her comments have ignited a firestorm of reactions online, with some applauding her candidness and others criticizing him for being insensitive.
Supporters agree that Majimbo’s views reflect a growing disenchantment with the culture of financial support, while detractors argue that it undermines the sacrifices made by families to educate and uplift their loved ones.
The debate raises important questions about familial obligations, the dynamics of financial support, and the expectations placed on individuals who achieve success abroad.
As discussions continue, Majimbo’s bold stance certainly highlights a significant perspective within the conversation about family and responsibility in the African diaspora.
Related: Elsa Majimbo Unites Kenyans With Her Leaked Private Video
