Mercy Masika says her marriage masterclass focuses on non-abusive relationships.
The gospel musician says her sessions address emotional distance in non-abusive relationships, following criticism of the marriage programme.
Gospel musician Mercy Masika has clarified that her Becoming a Wife masterclass does not encourage women to stay in abusive marriages. Instead, she said, the programme targets women seeking guidance on emotional distance in non-abusive relationships.
Masika addressed the criticism during a local television interview on Tuesday, November 10, 2026. She distinguished abuse from the loss of affection, attention and connection between partners.
Asked when a woman should stop trying to rescue a struggling marriage, Masika cautioned against enabling abuse. Her sessions, she explained, focus on relationships where partners have grown emotionally distant.
What inspired the Becoming a Wife masterclass
Masika said she developed the programme after observing the difficulties couples encounter in married life. Even after premarital counselling, she noted, some find marriage more challenging than they expected.
She also drew on her own experience, describing difficulties during her first two years of marriage. Although she and her husband received premarital counselling, they still struggled during that period.
Masika said falling in love can create expectations of lasting romance that differ from everyday married life. She now wants to share lessons from her experience with younger women.
In explaining that aim, she cited biblical teaching that encourages older women to guide younger ones. Having already supported a few women, she said she wanted to reach more through the programme.
Online debate over marriage responsibilities
Meanwhile, the masterclass announcement has prompted weeks of social media discussion about gender roles and women’s aspirations. Much of the debate has centred on how partners share responsibility for sustaining a marriage.
Some participants defended Masika’s decision to offer guidance to women interested in the sessions. Others, however, questioned why women appeared to carry much of the burden of learning how to make marriages work.
The announcement also generated humorous parodies and memes, widening attention around the programme. Alongside those reactions, online discussions included calls to prepare men for marriage and encourage shared responsibility between partners.
The masterclass will run from November 21 to December 12, 2026.
