Fantacee Wiz, a Sierra Leonean cultural icon, directed a scathing Facebook post at the Parliament of Sierra Leone, condemning its recent ban on women wearing trousers or miniskirts from the parliamentary well.
The multiple award-winning folk singer, poet, and activist was quick to attack the legislature’s agenda, TERMING THE ACT “A DEEP-FORMED MISTAKING OF PRIORITY IN A DEEPLY TRoubled NATION”:
“Dear Sierra Leone Parliament,” her statement begins with pointed sarcasm, “Before you rush to police women’s bodies, perhaps start by getting rid of that ugly duckling of a wig first.”
With this opening salvo, Wiz not only challenges the regulation but also symbolically rejects the colonial-era traditions still embedded in the institution’s aesthetics, setting the tone for a critique that is both cultural and political.
Her core argument centres on what she sees as a staggering misallocation of time and resources. “It is 2025,” she writes, “and instead of addressing the million and one things fundamentally wrong with Sierra Leone—poverty, corruption, education, healthcare—you are preoccupied with whether women should wear trousers or skirts. Truly astounding.”
The artist, known for her work that often blends social commentary with traditional artistry, made a clear distinction between culture and discrimination. “Any law that targets only one gender is not culture; it is discrimination, plain and simple,” she stated, stripping the parliamentary decision of any potential claim to cultural preservation.
Expressing sheer disbelief, Wiz highlighted the procedural weight given to the issue. “I am still struggling to comprehend the fact that an entire parliamentary sitting was convened, discussed, and publicised to debate what women choose to wear. Not food prices. Not insecurity. Not unemployment. But women’s clothing.”
Her final sentence served as a historical indictment: “History will remember priorities—and this one is embarrassingly misplaced.”
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Fantacee Wiz’s Facebook post has ignited a fresh wave of public debate. The comments beneath it reveal that her sentiments have resonated with, and even mobilized, many citizens who share her frustration. Her critique highlights a growing public sentiment that questions the urgency of regulating women’s clothing while the nation confronts more pressing issues. Parliament has not responded to this viral post as of the time of writing this article.
