Churches now do telemarketing surveys, asking: “What would you like in a church?” In effect, many churches are made to measure, according to the greatest demand and not according to God’s prescriptions.

Some pastors even go further and play it safe. They have surveys asking our members what kind of messages they would like to hear. This is a standard operating procedure in the world of business marketing. You find out what your potential customers want, and you give it to them. But it is inappropriate for the kingdom of God, which is based on the will of our Father in heaven.

The modern-day pastor is determined to change man’s perception of God and to make Him more desirable and appealing to the flesh, all in the interest of expeditious church growth. The flesh hates holiness, so, many pastors do all they can to make the church more like the world. Frankly, holiness is hard on the numbers and has a way of annoying the ambitious and offending the profane.

Instead of hating evil, as scripture commands (Psalm 97:10), today’s Christians are being taught just the opposite: to hate holiness. This is achieved by zealously removing from churches anything that encourages fear, respect, reverence, and awe toward the Almighty.

The trend is now towards promoting a casual, even cavalier attitude and atmosphere in and around churches to make people feel more comfortable and relaxed. The truth, however, is that we cannot entertain men into the kingdom: but we can convict them.

Churches are now the jack of all trades. They use such non-spiritual activities as gymnastics, rock ‘n’ roll, comedians, and a host of other gimmicks to entertain their congregation. The church service is often a carefully crafted and choreographed production designed to please and impress men and not God. Many churches put on shows with worldly celebrities to increase their numbers.

Now we see the next logical step in the process of marketing the church to the world, offer a free inducement to get them into your establishment. Put on a show, offer a free trial, give away something of value, and entice them with things to get them in the door.

Today it is a regular practice for churches to offer some sort of inducement for newcomers. In one American church, they offered to pay for a portion of the visitor’s petrol in exchange for visiting the church. Another preacher offered non-members a certain amount of money for just sitting through a Sunday morning service.

I suppose you might call this “avant-garde evangelism.”

That Is Entertainment

I walked into the parish of a major Lagos church for the very first time and was surprised to hear the choir playing the theme song from the blockbuster movie “Mission Impossible III.” Do not get me wrong; the choir was excellent. But you start to wonder if you are not actually at a pop concert as opposed to a church. 

Another church in Anderson, South Carolina (U.S.A.) even upped the ante. It was reported that they started a church service with the song “Brick House” by the Commodores. Who could blame them? After all, they were purpose-driven, determined to attract the world.

Just take a look at some of the words of the song and judge for yourself whether it agrees with the virtues of Jesus Christ: 

She knows she got everything
a woman needs to get a man, yeah.
How can she use, the things she use
36-24-36, what a winning hand!

The clothes she wears, the sexy ways,
make an old man wish for younger days
She knows she’s built and knows how to please
Sure enough to knock a man to his knees

How in heaven’s name can anyone think such a song is appropriate in a church of all places? But then churches are no longer what they used to be.

According to The Telegraph, the pastor of a big church in Kyiv, Ukraine encourages his congregants to “shake their booty and praise the Lord.” Reporting on one of his services, the newspaper observes that:

“As he prepared to make a grand entrance, the choirgirls shook their pompoms, the disco lights started to flash, and a fanfare sounded. The lights cut out, and (he) emerged from a shroud of dry ice. Children holding flags of the world wafted around him and the choir bellowed ‘Sanctus!’”

What exactly is happening here? Is it a worship service or a rock concert? Is Christ the bright morning star or is the pastor the superstar? I dare say some churches have gone astray because of their preoccupation with attracting and retaining new members.  

Babylonian Songs

In the single-minded pursuit of size and numerical growth, new-generation churches have reconfigured the church service into a show business where men come to be entertained on Sundays for the “gate fee” of an offering. The thinking is that by spiritualising popular music, the church becomes more attractive to unbelievers.

The danger in this approach is that the modern church becomes increasingly worldly.

The playing of secular music in churches does not facilitate the conversion of the lost. Indeed, music is never used in scripture as a means of reaching the lost. Instead, music is primarily used as a means of reaching God, because the Lord inhabits the praises of His people. (Psalm 22:3).

God is not likely to be reached through the “urban contemporary gospel music.” Jesus said to the Samaritan woman: “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24).

God’s mechanism for reaching the lost is through preaching. Jesus directs His disciples to: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15). He does not say we should go into the world and organise beautiful concerts.

But while the gospel may no longer be preached in many churches today, they certainly strive to play good popular music that is very attractive to the people.

“Give Jesus a wiper!”

Christian Pop and Rap

Is it appropriate to recast popular secular songs into Christian ones by changing the lyrics?

I do not think so.

Worldly music is inappropriate for conversion into “gospel” music. Jesus says: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:6).

James asks rhetorically: “Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus, no spring yields both salt water and fresh.” (James 3:12).

There is a spirit that holds the copyright to every song we sing. Changing the lyrics does not change the copyright. This means a worldly song cannot be converted into a godly song. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego refused to bow down to a god worshipped “in symphony with all kinds of music.” (Daniel 3:14-18).

Rock music, for example, is naturally wild; designed to stimulate the flesh. This makes it inappropriate for worship. Indeed, the rock of the rockstar is not the Rock of Ages. Moses says: “Their rock is not like our Rock.” (Deuteronomy 32:31).

Rap music is also vulgar and fleshly. At its most fundamental, it is characterised by foul language, and videos glorifying pimps and “bitches.” These types of music cannot be converted into spiritual music because of what Jesus calls the “good fruit” principle: “Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.” (Matthew 7:17-18).

Rap music emphasises the drums. Spiritual songs, on the other hand, emphasise the melody as opposed to the beat. (Psalm 33:2; Isaiah 51:3). Indeed, the Bible makes no mention anywhere of drums.

New Songs

Christian songs should be “new songs;” not reworked popular songs. New creatures should sing new songs, not the same old songs we were singing when we were still in the world.

The psalmist says: “He has put a new song in my mouth- praise to our God.” (Psalm 40:3). He enjoins believers repeatedly to: “Sing unto the LORD a new song, and His praise in the congregation of saints.” (Psalm 149:1). “Sing to Him a new song; play skilfully with a shout of joy.” (Psalm 33:3).

If church music appeals to the world, then it must be unacceptable to God. Jesus says: “What is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” (Luke 16:15). The world is not interested in music that genuinely glorifies the Lord. Therefore, many so-called Christian artists end up laundering their lyrics to give them a “cross-over” appeal.

After the children of Israel were carried into captivity, the Babylonians requested them to sing for sport. But they refused to sing the Lord’s song in a strange land. (Psalm 137:4). Observe that it is the Lord’s song and not the world’s song. It is not even Israel’s song.

Christian songs are supposed to be unto the Lord and not unto men. Christian music should be Godward and not manward. The psalmist says we are to sing praises “to the Lord.” (Psalm 9:11). Christian music should glorify God, as opposed to entertaining men.

Saturday Night Fever

Pastors play church a lot. They fill their choirs with gifted musicians who are singularly unspiritual. They hire them for a fee. As long as they play good music, they are acceptable in the beloved. These musicians play in discos on Saturday night and then in church on Sunday morning. Pastors are particular about how well they play: they are not concerned about their anointing.

But God is not impressed, and He would not be mocked. He says through the mouth of Amos:

“Away with your hymns of praise- they are mere noise to My ears. I will not listen to your music, no matter how lovely it is. I want to see a mighty flood of justice- a torrent of doing good.” (Amos 5:23-24).

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Proof of an ancient garden, consistent with biblical scripture, has emerged at the holiest site in Christianity — and an archaeologist says "many surprises" from the site are in the works.

Archaeologists excavating the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the ancient church in Jerusalem situated where Jesus Christ was crucified and buried, recently found evidence of ancient olive trees and grapevines. The specimens date back roughly 2,000 years.

The discovery echoes the New Testament verse John 19:41, "Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid."

Francesca Stasolla, an archaeology professor at the Sapienza University of Rome, confirmed the findings with Fox News Digital on Wednesday. She said the proof of the ancient garden came in the form of seeds and pollen.

Calvary, the site where the church stands, had multiple uses in ancient times, including being used as a quarry.

While the exact age of the organic material has yet to be determined, Stasolla said the pollen and seeds date back "in between the use of the quarry and the Roman age, when the area had a funerary use."

"The quarry had to be gradually abandoned and as the stone extraction ended it was used for agricultural areas and tombs," Stasolla said. "This must have been what it looked like in the 1st century A.D."

Stasolla also mentioned that many artifacts have been found at the site so far, with some dating all the way back to the Iron Age. The discoveries attest to the area's status as a pilgrimage location since the fourth century.

"Ceramics, metals, glass… [all] document both the occupation of the area and the presence of believers and pilgrims," she noted.

"The excavation's [aim is to gain] knowledge [about this] significant area of the city of Jerusalem."

"And this is what it is giving back," she added. "An area that, from a certain moment on, becomes central in the Christian cult."

The excavation, first reported by the Times of Israel, is the first major restoration project at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in nearly two centuries. The diggings are "taking place in all areas of the church common to the religious communities," Stasolla said.

The church was founded in 326 A.D., though the original fourth-century structure was destroyed by Islamic ruler al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah in 1009 A.D. 

The site was taken over by Christian Crusaders nearly a century later, and Stasolla said that the still-standing church is largely the work of the Crusaders.

"The current church is that of the Crusader reconstruction, but the whole church is a composition of historical phases from the fourth century to the modern age," she described.

When asked if she felt that the discovery echoes John 19:41, Stastolla agreed, though she drew a line between archaeological research and theology.

"Archaeology provides us with data that must then be historicized and interpreted," she said. "In this case, it documents an agricultural use of the quarry… [the Bible quote] is certainly suggestive [of this]."

Stasolla also emphasized that the excavation work is "still in progress, and the study will reserve many surprises."

"It is certainly a strategic excavation for the knowledge of the development of the city and its process of sacralization in a Christian key," she said.

Fox News

Suspected oil thieves have vandalized the 24-inch Ogboinbiri/Obiobi (OB-OB) gas pipeline in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. The pipeline, previously operated by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company, is now owned by Oando PLC.

The Bayelsa State government has condemned the act, describing it as economic sabotage, and pledged to collaborate with security agencies to arrest the perpetrators. In a statement on Friday, the Commissioner for Information, Orientation, and Strategy, Mrs. Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, warned that such destructive acts would not be tolerated.

“The government strongly condemns the criminal vandalism of the Ogboinbiri/Obiobi gas pipeline. We are working with security operatives to ensure those responsible are brought to justice and to prevent future attacks,” she said.

Koku-Obiyai emphasized the collective responsibility of protecting national assets, urging citizens to report suspicious activities near public infrastructure. She also highlighted the environmental and health risks posed by gas leaks, including exposure to hazardous chemicals.

“Pipeline vandalism not only causes revenue losses for all tiers of government but also endangers lives and the environment. We call on youths to reject such criminal acts and support efforts to safeguard critical infrastructure,” she added.

The incident follows recent pipeline breaches in the Niger Delta, including a fire on the Trans-Niger Pipeline in Rivers State on March 17 and an explosion at the Soku gas pipeline on March 22.

The state government reiterated its commitment to protecting public assets and fostering development, urging cooperation from residents to ensure security and attract investments.

Nigeria has received more than 1 million meningitis vaccine doses from Gavi-funded global stockpile to combat an outbreak of the deadly disease in Africa's most populous nation, Gavi said on Friday.

More than 70 people have died from the outbreak across several Nigerian states, with over 800 cases recorded, Gavi said.

Nigeria is one of the hotspots of the deadly disease in Africa, where at least 1,700 cases were reported last year, with more than 150 deaths recorded in seven states.

Gavi, a public-private partnership that helps fund vaccines for developing countries, said this first shipment would enable the launch of an outbreak response campaign targeting individuals aged 1–29 years, the most severely affected group.

The campaign will initially launch in Kebbi and Sokoto States, with plans to expand to Yobe State as additional doses arrive, Gavi said.

Nigeria became the first country in the world to roll out the "revolutionary" new Men5C vaccine against meningitis last year, according to the World Health Organization.

Outbreaks are common during the dry season, which runs from December to June, peaking between March and April, when low humidity and high dust levels prevail.

Meningitis is an inflammation of tissue surrounding the brain and spinal cord which can be caused by viral or bacterial infections. It spreads mainly through kisses, sneezes, coughs and in close living quarters.

Reuters

The Supreme Court has settled the leadership dispute within the Labour Party (LP) by setting aside the Court of Appeal's judgment that had recognized Julius Abure as the national chairperson. The five-member panel unanimously ruled on Friday that courts lack jurisdiction over internal party leadership matters.

The apex court upheld the appeal filed by Nenadi Usman, who was appointed to lead a 29-member caretaker committee in September 2024 after the National Executive Committee (NEC) removed the Abure-led executive. Usman, a former Minister of Finance and ex-senator representing Kaduna South, was tasked with facilitating new party leadership elections within 90 days.

Hamma Barka, who delivered the lead judgment, emphasized that "anything done outside jurisdiction amounts to a nullity." The Supreme Court also dismissed the cross-appeal filed by the Abure faction for lacking merit and voided the Federal High Court's October 8, 2024 judgment on jurisdictional grounds.

Background of the Dispute

The leadership crisis began in February 2024 when Oluchi Oparah, LP's national treasurer, accused Abure of misappropriating N3.5 billion—allegations Abure denied while threatening legal action. This led to widespread calls for his removal from party members.

In April 2023, the FCT High Court had already restrained Abure from presenting himself as the party's chairman. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) subsequently invalidated Abure's leadership, citing violations of the constitution and Electoral Act, and noting that his tenure had expired in June 2024.

The decisive leadership shift occurred on September 4, 2024, when Governor Alex Otti of Abia State convened a stakeholders' meeting in Umuahia, attended by prominent party figures including Peter Obi (LP's 2023 presidential candidate) and his running mate Datti Baba-Ahmed. This meeting appointed Usman to head the caretaker committee.

Reaction to the Verdict

Following the Supreme Court ruling, Usman described the judgment as "a victory for the rule of law and a significant milestone" for Nigeria's democracy. She emphasized unity, stating: "This is not a time for triumphalism—there is no victor and no vanquished. What matters most is our shared commitment to the ideals and aspirations of the Labour Party and the Nigerian people."

She called for party members to unite, declaring: "The Labour Party remains one indivisible family, steadfast in its mission to create a New Nigeria founded on justice, equity, and people-centred governance."

The Supreme Court's ruling effectively ends the prolonged leadership battle, establishing that Usman's caretaker committee has legitimate authority to steer the party forward.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The death toll from brutal attacks by armed gunmen in Plateau State has climbed to 52, marking yet another deadly assault on Nigerian civilians under President Bola Tinubu’s administration. The latest killings, which occurred across several communities in Bokkos Local Government Area, highlight the escalating insecurity plaguing the nation.

Farmasum Fuddang, Chairman of the Bokkos Cultural Development Council Vanguard, confirmed the grim tally after search teams recovered 40 more bodies on Wednesday and Thursday. Victims included 31 buried in a mass grave, five children burned alive in Hurti village, 11 slain in Ruwi, four killed in Manguna, and one in Dafo. The attacks, carried out on the night of April 2, 2025, saw gunmen storming villages, opening fire on residents, and torching homes.

Plateau State officials announced that security forces have arrested some suspects linked to the massacre. State Commissioner for Information, Mrs. Joyce Ramnap, condemned the violence, stating, “We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and assure them that every effort is being made to bring the perpetrators to justice.”

However, the massacre adds to a growing list of unchecked violence under President Tinubu’s leadership, raising questions about the federal government’s ability to protect citizens. Despite repeated promises to tackle insecurity, deadly attacks persist across the country—from bandit raids in the Northwest to communal clashes in the Middle Belt and separatist violence in the Southeast.

The Plateau State government has deployed additional security forces to the affected areas, urging residents to remain calm and avoid reprisals. Yet, many Nigerians are losing patience as bloodshed continues unabated.

As the nation mourns another tragedy, pressure mounts on the Tinubu administration to deliver concrete solutions rather than empty assurances.

Israel kills a Hamas commander in Lebanon, further testing ceasefire

Israel killed a commander of the Palestinian militant group Hamas in an airstrike on southern Lebanon on Friday, further testing a ceasefire that halted last year's war between Israel and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

The Israeli military said the targeted militant, Hassan Farhat, was behind a rocket attack on the city of Safed last year that killed and wounded several Israeli soldiers. It vowed to act against Hamas fighters "wherever they operate".

A security source said Farhat was killed along with his son and daughter in the strike in the southern Lebanese city of Sidon. Hamas' armed wing the al-Qassam Brigades said Farhat was assassinated in his apartment in Sidon, and praised his "blessed contributions" to the confrontation with Israel over the years.

Iran-backed Hezbollah condemned the strike in a statement, saying that the "targeting of Sidon is evidence of the enemy's intention to expand the scope of its aggression and target all of Lebanon".

Hamas and Hezbollah are allies, and Hezbollah launched a campaign of cross border strikes on Israel in solidarity with the Palestinian group in 2023. Israel responded with a major air and ground campaign in Lebanon last year that killed much of the Hezbollah leadership.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam's office said Friday's Israeli attack was a clear violation of a U.S.-backed ceasefire.

The ceasefire, agreed in November, has appeared increasingly precarious in recent weeks, with Israel striking the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut twice and rockets being fired on two occasions from Lebanon towards Israel.

Hezbollah also accused the ceasefire sponsors, led by the U.S., of overlooking Israeli attacks.

The U.S. backed Israel after the Israeli strikes in Beirut's southern suburbs and said Israel was defending itself, blaming "terrorists" for the resumption of hostilities.

Hezbollah has denied any role in the recent rocket fire.

Reuters

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Putin and Zelensky ready to make a deal – Trump

The leaders of Russia and Ukraine are ready to make a peace deal, US President Donald Trump claimed on Thursday. He has been trying to broker a ceasefire between the two neighbors since February. 

A reporter asked Trump on Air Force One about his communication with Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky. “I think he’s ready to make a deal. And I think that [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin is ready to make a deal,” Trump said. He declined to go into specifics but added that the US is having “a lot of good conversations about Ukraine and Russia.” 

“We like to see [the conflict] stopped as soon as possible because thousands of people have been killed in a week,” Trump said. “Europe has not been successful in dealing with President Putin, but I think I will be successful.”

Trump made his comments as Putin’s investment envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, traveled to Washington, where he reportedly met with America’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff. The sides mostly continued discussing steps to normalize bilateral relations frozen by the Biden administration in 2022, Dmitriev told reporters on Thursday evening. He noted the “positive dynamic” of the talks, adding that more meetings need to take place to resolve the differences.

Trump’s Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, told Fox Business on Wednesday that Trump has been “frustrated” with both Putin and Zelensky. He remained optimistic about the negotiations, saying that the sides were “on the precipice” of a comprehensive ceasefire. 

Moscow has accused Kiev of multiple violations of an energy truce brokered by Trump last month. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Ukraine has struck fuel depots, gas facilities, and the electrical grid, despite promising to respect a 30-day pause on such attacks. Kiev has claimed that Russia was breaching the same agreement.

Russia has maintained that any long-term settlement would be viable only if the US and Ukraine address the root causes of the conflict. Moscow demands that Kiev abandon its plans to join NATO and recognize Crimea and four other former Ukrainian regions as Russian territory.

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Zelenskiy says details of foreign troop contingent in Ukraine could be ready in a month

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday that European military planners could be ready within a month with details of a foreign troop contingent in Ukraine seen as critical to ending the war with Russia.

Kyiv is seeking security guarantees from its allies in the event of a peace agreement with Moscow to prevent a repeat of its February 2022 full-scale invasion.

Speaking to reporters in Kyiv after meeting British and French military chiefs, Zelenskiy said many other countries would also contribute to the effort, which envisages foreign troops patrolling Ukrainian land, sea and airspace.

"I think the teams need about a month, no longer, and we will be fully ready with an understanding of this infrastructure," he said.

Zelenskiy added that military working groups would meet weekly until then to finalise the details. He did not specify which other nations would contribute.

Ukrainian army leaders including Kyiv's top general and the chief of its general staff also met the visiting European military officials on Friday.

Zelenskiy, who spoke shortly after a Russian missile attack killed 14 people in his hometown of Kryvyi Rih, said Kyiv's partners have "a lot of understanding" of Ukraine's needs.

"Today we discussed the issue of not only the quantity (of troops), but also the mandate," he said. "It is important for me."

RT/Reuters

A young Chinese woman went viral on social media after showing off her unusual home – a 6-square-foot toilet at her workplace for which she pays just 50 yuan ($7).

Everyone tries to save money on rent, but how many of us would be willing to sleep in an actual toilet to do it? One young woman from Hunan, China, recently shocked the world after posting photos of her unconventional living quarters – a small, unused toilet located inside the furniture factory where she works. The 19-year-old woman explained that she comes from a poor family and couldn’t afford to pay upwards of 800 yuan ($110) for a proper home, so she asked her boss if she could live there instead.

Her post went viral, but most people commented that she was only sharing photos and videos to attract attention because no one could live in such conditions. However, the woman’s boss took to social media to confirm that she was indeed sleeping in a 6-square-foot toilet at his factory.

“She insisted on paying me an extra 50 yuan for water and electricity every month, but I didn’t want to take her money,” the woman’s boss said, adding that the wholesale furniture factory was located in a remote industrial park that didn’t leave her many options for affordable rent.

The woman said that her boss tried helping her find more normal accommodations close to the factory, but the rent was between 800 ($110) and 1,000 yuan ($140). She currently earns a monthly salary of under 3,000 yuan ($415), and she is trying to save as much money as possible for a down payment on a home, so she didn’t think it was worth it. He even offered to let her live in an office at the factory, but she decided that the unused toilet offered more privacy.

“For me now, having a place to live is enough,” the young woman posted online. “I don’t want to spend a lot of money to rent a house. I definitely can’t bear to spend 800 yuan to rent a house.”

After her post went viral, the woman revealed that she had dropped out of school at the age of 16 to help her family with the finances, which makes this job that much more important to her. She has been living in the small toilet for about a month, but her boss is currently making modifications to an office, and she hopes to move there soon.

The 19-year-old woman’s unusual living conditions got mixed reactions on Chinese social media, with some people admiring her determination to save money and others saying that her health is more important than money and that no one should live in those conditions unless they had no other alternative.

Oddity Central

Chelsea Coates

Braids are one of the most popular hairstyles for black women, worn by celebrities and aunties alike - but questions are being raised about its effects on our health.

The process can last up to five hours as stylists deftly part small, evenly-spaced sections of hair, and gradually add in extensions.

Despite the long salon visits, braids have always been closely linked to convenience for me.

Growing up, they were for holidays, as the style meant that instead of fretting over how frizzy my hair would get, I could jump in the pool with no worries.

Braids are still what I turn to now when I want a few months break from all the detangling - or I want to try a new colour without the potential damage of hair dye.

But a new study suggests that the synthetic hair many black women use to achieve this style could be bad for their health.

The US non-profit organisation Consumer Reports tested samples from ten of the most popular brands of synthetic braiding hair, and found that all of them contained carcinogens, and in some cases, lead.

The research made an impact, as my Instagram feed and WhatsApp groups were flooded with links to the study, warning of the alleged risks hidden in our hair.

One of the messages was from my cousin, Rochelle, who does her braids herself every other month.

"Braids, famously, are called a protective style," she later told me.

It's a term typically used to describe several Afro hairstyles, including braids, locs and wigs, that reduce how much your hair is exposed to the elements and cut back on constant styling.

"The fact that this style is doing everything but protect us - it's actually harming us - is actually quite wild to me."

It is the lack of awareness among black women that is most concerning, she adds.

"People that are eating unhealthy food or smoking, they know that what they're doing could harm their body, whereas if you're putting braids in your hair, you're not thinking that it's harming you."

James Rogers, the head of product safety testing at Consumer Reports, says that the results are a cause for concern because women have "constant contact" with harmful chemicals if their hair is in braids, often for months at a time.

"We believe that whenever you're exposed to harmful chemicals, that it's cumulative - it all adds up."

But he also emphasised that more research was needed, saying: "We're hoping that this begins the conversation, not only at the regulatory level, but also amongst our own communities, about sharing accurate information."

Here at Josée's Professional Braiding Studio in north London, the study certainly isn't putting clients off.

Josée and her daughters Abigail and Naomi, who work with her in the salon, have seen interest from new customers, especially after they helped to create the wig worn by Elphaba in Wicked, one of highest-grossing movies of 2024.

"People were shocked by how versatile we can be with our braiding," Abigail tells me, adding that her mum received several messages from clients telling them how proud they were.

Josée says that while the findings are "worrying", it has been business as usual at the salon.

Some of her customers, however, have been rattled by the research.

It's Kellie-Ann's first time getting her braids done at Josée's salon, but she has been wearing the style since she was a child.

She tells me she felt betrayed after reading the study: "I think it's awful that companies have been doing this for years to black women and I think we deserve better."

She's now seeking out brands free from harmful chemicals and plastic - and says many of her friends are doing the same.

"A lot of women I've spoken to about it have agreed that biogradable would be better - it's good for the planet as well."

Ifeanyi has also worn braids since childhood, and says they are the easiest and most convenient style to handle while she's busy studying at university.

She argues that the study is not alarming, pointing out that people may come into contact with carcinogens every day, in certain processed foods, alcohol and tobacco.

"Obviously you want be cautious - I just think that it's not necessarily something to completely abandon the style or the hair for."

She's concerned that the social media posts she has seen will "scare people out of wanting to engage", to the detriment of a critical source of income for black entrepreneurs working in the hair industry.

In 2021 Treasure Tress, a UK-based beauty subscription for black hair, found that black British women spent £168m a year on hair products. Earlier research by L'Oreal suggested that black women in the UK spend six times more on their hair than white women.

"I'd like to see more of a commitment to making sure that things are safer for us, rather than telling us that some of our historical, traditional practices as black women are wrong," Ifeanyi says.

For some, changing attitudes towards synthetic hair are opening up business opportunities.

Tendai Moyo co-founded Ruka Hair in 2021, which specialises in extensions made from natural hair sourced from South East Asia, as well as biodegradable synthetic hair, made from collagen fibre.

She tells me they have seen a "huge uptick in demand", especially in the US, where the study was published.

But she sees this as part of a wider trend, which stretches beyond concerns raised by the new research.

"We launched in the pandemic, and people were like, 'Oh, but salons are closed', but we were selling out because people don't stop doing their hair."

She tells me that black women "got to experiment" more with their hair during lockdown and were more willing to try out new products.

One of the biggest draws of traditional synthetic hair brands, however, is their low price, which has made experimenting with different styles and colours affordable for years.

But newer brands tend to have a higher price point - Tendai tells me that Ruka's most popular synthetic hair type costs around 2.5 times more than several high street brands.

Ifeanyi says that, as a student, brands like Ruka are out of reach for her: "To purchase the hair is equivalent to the amount it would cost you to get the hairstyle done, so you're essentially doubling the price."

Tendai defends this by comparing it to choosing between "fast food and healthy food".

She adds: "You can actually reuse our products if you'd like, and therefore you're saving money in that way."

Back at Josée's salon, Naomi tells me that braiding is not just an important source of income, but a valued cultural practice that brings her family together.

"I call myself a braid baby because I've been braiding since I was 6 years old," she says, telling me how her family would bond over the skill as her mum proudly looks on.

"It's an empowering service to offer," she adds, saying that it's gratifying to do a job that leaves other women feeling uplifted.

Despite growing concerns about the effect it could have on our health, braiding is a precious heirloom for this family - and for many other black women - passed down from generation to generation.

As Ifeanyi tells me: "The form of extensions might change, but I don't think the practice of getting braids is going anywhere."

BBC