Nigerian music star 9ice, born Abolore Akande, has opened up about his spiritual life, revealing that he has practised as a traditional priest for nearly two decades.
The ‘Gongo Aso’ crooner made the disclosure during the listening party for his latest album, Beginning Of Wisdom, where he spoke about why he kept this aspect of his life private for years.
According to the singer, he chose to conceal his identity as a babalawo out of concern that it might affect how people relate to him.
“I have been a babalawo for more than 18 years, but I have hidden it because if people knew, they would run away from me. So I have been hiding, and I wondered what topic of song I could sing about to let people know the type of God I serve,” he said.
He explained that his intention now is to incorporate elements of his traditional beliefs into his music while making it relatable to a modern audience.
“The thing is, if I want to sing about my God, it’s very traditional, old school, so I want to make it sound new school, appealing to this generation,” he added.
Reflecting on his spiritual journey, the artiste noted that he has never been secretive about his beliefs, despite evolving over time.
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“If I am doing something, you will know. When I was a Muslim, people knew it. When I was a Christian, I was devoted. But now I’m a different person, and I think I have just found my true calling,” he said.
Prompt News reports his revelation comes amid ongoing conversations in the entertainment space, following similar remarks by Saheed Osupa about using traditional practices in his pursuit of success.
