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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

Celebrity Chef Hilda Baci threatens legal actions against Seyi Vibez

.Guinness World Record holder Hilda Baci is demanding an apology from musician Seyi Vibez over defamatory posts. When Afrobeats star Seyi Vibez recently launched an online tirade against Damilola Akinwunmi, the CEO of Dapper Music, over allegations of contract breach and fraud, celebrity chef Hilda Baci was caught in the crossfire.

In a now-deleted post on his X page, Seyi Vibez claimed that Hilda Baci’s food almost killed him after her partner, the CEO of Dapper Music, gave it to him. The post, which was meant to mock Akinwunmi, with whom he was feuding, invariably denigrated the culinary skills and quality of the meal of the celebrity chef who holds the Guinness World Record for the largest pot of jollof rice.

n the letter by Hilda Baci’s lawyers, Olaniwon Ajayi LLC, Seyi Vibez is accused of making the libellous post viewed approximately 4.3 million times before it was deleted.

“First Publication on 14th August, 2026 by 13:24 WAT “Na Hilda Baci bbl all una catalogue money dey go [Face with Tears of Joy emoji] All of una Dey craze and una mama”

Second Publication 14th August, 2026 by 13:32 WAT “I Made dapper. Dapper won take all of them life Ohboi. I chop Hilda baci food one day Na the same dapper give me the food almost kill me Dem Dey use jazz The jazz no work on me”

The above publications have been viewed approximately 4.3 million times, retweeted approximately 7,100 times, received approximately 3,000 comments, and were liked approximately 45,000 times, and continue to be accessible and circulated on the internet.”

Her lawyers further added that since the musician made the post, their client has been exposed to unwarranted, persistent, and escalating harassment across various social media platforms.

“Following the publication of the aforesaid malevolent statements, our client has been subjected to unwanted, persistent and escalating harassment across various social media platforms and personal handles, including a barrage of unsolicited and abusive messages and comments from members of the public. This conduct has exposed our client to unwarranted public hostility and harassment, causing our Client considerable distress and reputational harm, and has materially interfered with her privacy, peace and personal security. The targeted harassment is a direct and foreseeable consequence of the publications complained of.”

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Celebs

Erica opens up on mental struggles she faced after Big Brother Naija

Former Big Brother Naija housemate, Erica Nlewedim, has opened up on the mental struggles she faced after her time on the reality show. The actress and reality star revealed that she battled serious anxiety after leaving the show, as she struggled with constant insults and criticism from fans and social media users. Erica made the revelation while reflecting on her experience after her time on Big Brother Naija and the impact of staying in the public eye.

Speaking about the impact of her time on the reality show, she said she was grateful for the opportunities it created but admitted that the constant trolling took a toll on her mental health.

“I am happy I did it (BBN) because it changed my life, money-wise and all of that. I had to see a therapist afterwards. At first, I didn’t know it was getting to me until after like three years of back-to-back insults.

If I open Instagram and see notifications, I will be like, “Are they dragging me for something again?” I was always anxious, and I didn’t like that.

2024 was my quiet time. I didn’t act on any movie; I just decided to take a break in 2024. It was just last year that I decided to start coming back.

They are like, “Oh, you signed up for this, or you should be used to it by now. One shouldn’t be used to insults or trolling because they are celebrities.”

According to her, some movie producers dismissed her acting ability because of her background as a Big Brother Naija star. She said some producers cast her in lead roles mainly to attract her fans, rather than because they believed in her talent.

“Before I went for Big Brother in 2019, I went to film school in London and I came back thinking I was going to take over, and then Covid happened. So, I had to go for Big Brother.

I was already acting before Big Brother, but most of the characters I played were not lead roles. But after Big Brother, they would put me as the lead and be like It’s only because they want my fans to buy the tickets that they put me in a lead role. It was just all about, you can’t do this. That’s all I kept hearing, and then some producers would be like they put us because they need our fans to come and watch the movie and they would say it to my face. At some point, it just broke me, and that’s why I took a break in 2024. The hardest time was 2023.”

Erica was one of the housemates on the 2020 Lockdown edition of Big Brother Naija. Her time on the show attracted significant attention, particularly because of her relationship with fellow housemate Kiddwaya and her clashes with Laycon.

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Entertainment

2Baba unfollows wife Natasha and refollows ex-wife Annie

Nigerian music legend Innocent “2Baba” Idibia has unfollowed his wife, Natasha Osawaru, on Instagram, days after a reported public confrontation between the two at a nightclub opening in Abuja.

The incident reportedly occurred on Friday at the launch of the “90s Lounge,” where 2Baba was billed to perform. According to accounts circulating online, Osawaru arrived at the venue accompanied by several men before approaching the singer’s vehicle, triggering a commotion that required the intervention of police and security personnel.

An eyewitness account shared by a social media user claimed Osawaru had demanded to speak with 2Baba on arrival, though the widely circulated video from the scene does not show what specifically triggered the confrontation.

Following the incident, 2Baba was said to have told Osawaru he was no longer interested in continuing their relationship. Checks on his Instagram account on Sunday confirmed he had unfollowed her, while Osawaru continued to follow him.

The fallout comes just over a year after 2Baba’s very public split from his ex-wife, actress Annie Macaulay Idibia, ending a 13-year marriage in January 2025. He confirmed his relationship with Osawaru, an Edo State lawmaker, shortly after, proposing in February 2025 and marrying her in a private traditional ceremony that July.

In a further twist, checks on Monday showed that 2Baba and Annie have since followed each other again on Instagram, more than a year after the pair had unfollowed one another following their separation. The renewed connection has fuelled fresh speculation and reactions online, with many commenters framing the timing as a kind of poetic justice given the current strain between 2Baba and Osawaru.

This isn’t the first sign of tension surrounding the marriage. In a previous incident, 2Baba reportedly interrupted a livestream in which his former managers were discussing his private life, telling them directly to stop. Shortly after, a heated exchange between him and Osawaru was heard off-camera before the broadcast was abruptly cut.

Throughout the public scrutiny surrounding his relationships, 2Baba has maintained that Osawaru was not the reason for his separation from Annie.As of publication, neither 2Baba nor Osawaru has issued a public statement addressing the nightclub incident or the changes to their social media activity.

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