The relatives of the late gospel singer Toluwanisings have issued a stark warning that they will exhume his remains should officials place him in a public cemetery instead of interring him beside his mother at the family compound in Oyo State. The family’s spokesperson, speaking on a video that has circulated on social media, said the decision to bring the artist home is unanimous and non‑negotiable.
What does the family want?
The spokesperson stated, “We have all decided in the family that Toluwanisings must not be buried in the cemetery. For this reason, they should bring him back home.” He added that any attempt to bury the singer elsewhere would trigger the family’s own intervention, saying, “If you people decide to bury him in the cemetery, we will remove him from there. I am speaking on behalf of all the family members.”
Why the insistence on the family compound?
The family dismissed suggestions that the singer could be laid to rest at the house he built, insisting that the only acceptable site is beside his mother’s grave within the father’s compound in Oyo State. “If you say you can’t bury him in his house that he built, we don’t know your reasons and we don’t even care to know, just bring him home,” the representative asserted.
Key facts about the deceased:
- Real name: Olayemi Bayonle Bolaji.
- Date of death: 14 October 2026.
- Age at death: 41 years.
- A candle‑light procession honoring him was held on 20 October, followed by a tribute night later in the month.
Public reaction:
Social‑media users have been divided. Some argue that the family should have the final say in the burial location, while others call for a peaceful resolution that respects both the wishes of the relatives and the deceased’s legacy.
The dispute underscores the cultural importance of burial customs in Nigeria, where families often prefer interment close to ancestral grounds. Authorities have yet to comment on how they will handle the family’s ultimatum.