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Sound Sultan 1976-2021: 7 Things To Know About The Late Singer And Activist

Sound Sultan

Yesterday, Sunday, July 11, 2021, the Nigerian entertainment industry lost an icon as singer, songwriter, actor, and activist, Olanrewaju Fasasi, popularly known as Sound Sultan, breathe his last. This has thrown the country, especially fans and colleagues of the late singer into a sorrowful state.

Also a recording artist, the Jagbajantis singer died at the age of 44 in the United States and will be remembered for pioneering the birth of the Nigerian music industry as it is today and for also playing his part in the development of modern hip hop music in the country.

As an activist, he called out societal ills through his music. He wrote songs on issues like bad governance, corruption, poverty, inequality, etc.

It has been known that the singer has battled Angioimmunoblastic T-Cell Lymphoma also known as throat cancer (a rare kind of cancer) for a while and had traveled to the United States in May 2021 for chemotherapy treatment where he eventually died. He was buried the same day at the Masjid Al Aman Cemetery, in New Jersey according to Islamic rites.

A statement from the family signed by one Dr. Kayode Fasasi read:

“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of multitalented veteran singer, rapper, songwriter Olanrewaju Fasasi aka Sound sultan. He passed away at the age of 44 following a hard-fought battle with Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma.”

Tributes have continued to pour in from all and sundry in celebration of his life and legacy which saw him contribute immensely to the growth of the Nigerian music industry.

Sound Sultan

Here are 5 things you should know about the late Olanrewaju Abdul-Ganiu Fasasi popularly known as Sound Sultan.

1. Brief Biography

Born in Jos, Plateau State on the 27th of November 1976 as Olanrewaju Abdul-Ganiu Fasasi, the late songwriter, Sound Sultan was the fourth of six children born to his parents – Liadi Alarape Fasasi and Adeyinka Ajarat Fasasi. He attended Stepping Stone Nursery and Primary School in Lagos for his primary education before proceeding to the Federal Government College, Ogbomoso in Oyo state to complete his basic education. The Remember hitmaker would later graduate from the Lagos State University in 1999 with a degree in Geography and Regional Planning.

2. Music Career

Born in Jos, which was the go-to town for raw musical talents in the 1990s, Sound Sultan picked up interest in music also buoyed by the fact that his elder brother, Dare Fasasi, popularly known as Baba Dee, was already into music. He started penning down his own lyrics which he would sing at school events while in primary school. He learned to play the guitar with the help of his brother and continued developing his musical talents while participating in local musical talent hunt shows (most of which he won).

Sound Sultan was signed up by Kennis Music in 1997 and worked with the label until 2008 when he and his brother, Baba Dee floated their own record label dubbed ‘Naija Ninja Entertainment Production Company’. Under Kennis Music, Sound Sultan released four albums including Kpseeeeeeew (2001), Textbook (2004), and Naija 007 (2007). He signed several artists under his record label including Young GreyC, Blacka, Karma Da Rapper, and Shawn. He also released the album Back From The Future with his label in 2010.

3. Work With International Artists

Beyond the Nigerian shores, Sound Sultan was one of the Nigerian artists who have worked with globally acclaimed artists like Sarkodie, JoeEl, Honorebel, and Wyclef Jean, among others. Perhaps, it is his work with Haitian/American rapper, Wyclef Jean, that stands out. Together, they released a body of work including King of My Country, People Bad, Proud to be African. The latter also featured other top Nigerian music greats such as Faze and Tuface Idibia.

4. Acting Career

Sound Sultan was a multi-talented entertainer. He was not only a musician, he was also an actor who had a couple of movie credits to his name. In 2014, he, alongside others stars such as 2baba, Basketmouth, Akpororo among others starred in the movie titled Head Gone. The comedy movie which was produced by the late singer and directed by his brother, Baba Dee, was universally acclaimed. Others movies the late star appeared in include Campus Queen (2004) and The Washerman (2018).

5. Business Endeavor

Asides from music and entertainment, Sound Sultan had an eye for business. He was the owner of the Nigerian basketball team, Lagos City Stars who play in the Continental Basketball League. They were crowned the champions of the 2017 basketball league season. He was also a facilitator of the league entertainment.

6. Awards And Recognitions

Sound Sultan was nominated for, and equally received several awards in his line of work including the 2012 Headies Award for Album of the Year with Back From The Future. The same year, he was made a United Nations (UN) Ambassador for Peace for his exemplary lifestyle and career. In 2018, he received the City People Music Special Recognition Award.

7. Marriage and Children

Before his death, Sound Sultan was married to the beautiful Chichi Morah, his long-term girlfriend in 2009. Although she now goes by the name Farida Fasasi after she converted to Islam. The union was blessed with three children.

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Celebs

I am Not A Womanizer, I Just Love Hard – 2BABA

When Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba, recently described himself as a “lover boy” rather than a womaniser, the comment landed with a sense of irony. In a recent sit-down with the Voice of Nigeria, the singer addressed the tag that has followed him for decades: “The biggest misconception about me is that I’m a womaniser. I’m a lover boy. I love hard.

While 2Baba frames his history as one of intense affection, his personal relationship timeline is a complex one. This “lover boy” energy has seen him father eight children across four different relationships, most notably with Sumbo Adeoye and Pero Adeniyi, the latter of whom remained a source of public tension during his 12-year marriage to actress Annie Idibia.

2Baba’s romantic history predates his rise to superstardom, but it became more visible as his career took off in the early 2000s. He is a father to eight children with four women: Sumbo Ajala, now known as Sumbo Adeoye; Pero Adeniyi, now known as Pero Adeniyi Agofure; Annie Macaulay; and Natasha Osawaru.

Although Annie is often remembered as his earliest and most enduring partner, 2Baba’s first child is with Sumbo Ajala, with whom he has two children. He later had three children with Pero Adeniyi, with whom he maintained an on-and-off relationship for several years. These overlapping relationships, which became public over time, contributed to the perception of instability in his romantic life.

Despite their long history, their relationship was repeatedly tested. While Annie and 2Baba eventually married and had two children together, their union was marked by years of public strain, including disputes involving extended family members, social media outbursts, and emotional revelations on reality television.

Following years of public online in-law drama and emotional outcries on reality TV, 2Baba has since turned a new leaf with his current wife, Natasha Osawaru, whom he married in July 2025, months after news of his separation from Annie became public.

The marriage surprised many and was widely interpreted as a fresh start, placing the singer in a more settled social environment. However, the promise of stability was soon put to the test. By late 2025, rumours of marital tension began circulating online, driven largely by videos and social media activity. One widely shared clip appeared to show 2Baba and Natasha engaged in a heated exchange at a shopping mall in the United Kingdom.

Another incident occurred during a live Instagram session hosted by Daddy Freeze, where the singer joined a conversation involving his former management. In the video, raised voices could be heard, prompting widespread speculation about the state of their marriage.

Public reactions were swift, with some questioning the dynamics of the relationship. Days later, 2Baba addressed the situation directly, warning that public speculation had gone too far.

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Entertainment

Grammys 2026: Tyla outshines Burna Boy, Davido, Wizkid & Ayra Starr in the African music category

South African pop star, Tyla, has once again stamped her authority on the global music stage after winning the Best African Music Performance award at the 2026 Grammy Awards, defeating Nigeria’s biggest exports — Burna Boy, Davido, Ayra Starr, and Wizkid — in a fiercely contested category.

Tyla secured the honour with her viral record, “Push 2 Start,” ahead of Burna Boy’s “Love,” Davido and Omah Lay’s collaboration “With You,” Ayra Starr and Wizkid’s “Gimme Dat,” as well as Eddy Kenzo and Mehran Matin’s “Hope & Love.” The category, introduced to spotlight African creativity, continues to draw global attention as Afrobeats and African pop gain mainstream appeal worldwide

The victory extends Tyla’s fast-rising dominance in international award circles and highlights South Africa’s growing footprint in the African and global music ecosystem.

For Nigeria, however, the night ended in disappointment. Despite heavy nominations across top categories, no Nigerian artiste returned home with a Grammy trophy in 2026. Established stars such as Burna Boy, Davido, Omah Lay, Ayra Starr and Wizkid all fell short, marking one of the rare years Africa’s most influential music nation failed to record a win at the Grammys.

Burna Boy also suffered a setback in the Best Global Music Album category, where his project, “No Sign of Weakness,” lost out to Brazilian legends Caetano Veloso and Maria Bethânia, whose collaborative live album, “Caetano e Bethânia Ao Vivo,” claimed the prize.

Tyla’s latest Grammy moment carries historical weight. She is now a two-time winner of the Best African Music Performance category, having first made history in 2024 with her smash hit, “Water,” which earned her the title of the category’s inaugural recipient. Her repeat success signals consistency, global acceptance and the widening space for African female stars in the international music market.

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Entertainment

Davido Comes Under Fire For Comments On Ishowspeed’s ‘Multiple Women’ Massage in Ghana

Afrobeats star Davido became the subject of online discussion after sharing a playful Instagram story that many Nigerians interpreted as controversial. On 26 January 2026, the Grammy-nominated singer reposted a viral video of American streamer IShowSpeed receiving a massage from multiple women in Ghana, during his African tour.

In the repost on his Instagram Stories, Davido tagged his wife, Chioma Rowland Adeleke, with a light-hearted caption that appeared to seek her permission for a similar “Ghana shea butter massage.”

The caption read: ‘@thechefchi oh boy my darling wife pls permit me 😅😅this nah Ghana???’

The post was framed as humour, but screenshots of the story quickly circulated on X (formerly Twitter), where it gained significant attention beyond his Instagram audience.

While some viewers interpreted the message as harmless banter between a married couple, others viewed it as inappropriate, particularly given Davido’s public profile and marital status.

The post generated a range of reactions from Nigerian social media users. Some expressed discomfort with the public nature of the message, questioning its appropriateness given Davido’s marital status. Others used humour or satire to comment on the situation, while several users framed their reactions.

While some comments implied that the post reinforced long-standing perceptions about his personal life, other users defended the artist, describing the post as an unserious “cruise” or typical celebrity humour taken out of context.

It is worth noting the budding relationship between Davido and IShowSpeed (real name Darren Watkins Jr.). The two have connected through the streamer’s recent African tour, which included stops in Nigeria and Ghana.

On 21 January 2026, IShowSpeed’s 21st birthday, Davido surprised him with a FaceTime call during a live stream in Lagos, Nigeria. The Afrobeats hitmaker, who was in Paris at the time, wished Speed a happy birthday, congratulated him on reaching 50 million YouTube subscribers, and promised a future collaboration in the US

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