9ice Reveals Over 18 Years Practice as Traditionalist, Criticizes Nigeria's Development Pace

Abolore Akande, the Nigerian singer-songwriter professionally known as 9ice, has voiced his concerns regarding the sluggish pace of development in Nigeria, noting a paradox where faith increases while progress seems to stagnate. The 46-year-old artist shared these sentiments on Wednesday evening during the listening event for his latest album, "Beginning of Wisdom," which took place in Yaba, Lagos.

The artist, famous for his hit song "Gongo Aso," remarked that he has experienced both Christianity and Islam but has not observed any tangible national advancement resulting from invoking the names of Jesus or Allah. 9ice stated that his current practice involves traditional Nigerian spirituality, asserting that the nation's challenges will only be resolved through a return to its cultural foundations.

He elaborated, "For us to have a good president in Nigeria, we need to go back to our roots. Many of our problems are not being addressed at the root; we need to tackle them from the foundation. If things begin to make sense to us, and if the God we call upon is truly enough, we wouldn’t feel the need to compete with anyone. Whatever I do should not concern you. We need to return to our roots."

9ice further questioned Nigeria's focus on religious activities, stating, "Since we started calling on Jesus and Allah, this country has not gotten better. We have oil, we have bitumen, we have everything, yet we are still lagging. If you go to London, nobody goes to church; they go to work. Here, we go to church on Sunday, have Bible study on Wednesday, and have a night vigil on Friday. When do we go to work? You don’t have a job, yet you’re always in church."

The founder of Alapomeji Entertainment Limited and Alapomeji Ancestral Record also revealed his extensive involvement in traditional African spirituality. He detailed his journey, including learning the associated rituals, consulting oracles, and interpreting their messages, emphasizing his commitment to honoring ancestral traditions while fostering connections across generations.

"I’ve been Babalawo now for more than 18 years, but I hide it because some people will run from me if they know. So I’ve been hiding it. So, there’s something we call ‘Odun Ifa’, and when we do it, it’s like you are appreciating God and thanking Him for what He has done before. But on that night you’re praying for the year that is yet to come, please guide me. Please tell me what I need to do. Please tell me what I need to run away from."

He added, "So I’ve been hiding and doing it. And I was thinking, which topic of the song do I want to talk about? Rather than looking. Let my people know my kind of God. My own God. Then if I want to think about my God, He’s so traditional. There’s a way we call ourselves. There’s something oracle said about the hair, hands and everything in life", 9ice explained.

Additionally, 9ice, celebrated for integrating Yoruba language into his music, shared that he has found his authentic self after a long period of exploration. The artist, known for "Election Time," noted that while fans may desire the return of his previous persona, he has evolved.

"I’m not that person anymore. This is who I am now. It’s a journey. When I was a Muslim, people knew it. I observed my prayers diligently. When I was a Christian, I devoted my time to everything I did. But now, I’m a different person. I think I’ve found my true calling. I don’t feel the need to release songs every day. I’ve been through different phases in my life, but I believe where I am now is the best."

He further commented on societal perceptions, stating, "If it were then, when my priest was praying, people would have run away, thinking, ‘they have come again.’ People are different now. If you ask for the surnames of people sitting here, you’ll hear Ogunwande, Ogunyemi, and Sobanjo. But where are the Ogun and Oso in your homes? Now people say their name is Jesus— have you seen Jesus before?", the singer questioned.

In recent news, the singer performed at the 2026 Lagos Fanti Carnival alongside other Afrobeats artists like Teni, Niniola, Reminisce, and Terry Apala at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS). His performance included renditions of his classic hits, such as "Gongo Aso."

Previously, in August 2025, 9ice shared on "The Nancy Isime Show" that he had experienced a prolonged period of vomiting blood for six months. Despite medical interventions, the condition persisted until he turned to Ifa, the traditional Yoruba spiritual system, which he described as a significant turning point in his life.