Renowned Nigerian Islamic singer, Rukayat Gawat Oyefeso, has sadly passed away. Known for her captivating voice and spiritually uplifting songs, she was a beloved figure within the Muslim community.
According to Drivetvnews, the news of her death was shared by Alfa Aribidesi At-Tawdeeh, a prominent religious leader based in Ilorin, via his official Facebook page early Tuesday morning. As of this report, the details surrounding the cause of her death remain undisclosed.
Her passing has been met with an outpouring of grief from her fans and the larger Muslim music community, with widespread reports covering her death. Among those mourning is Jubril Gawat, Senior Special Assistant on New Media to Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who expressed his sorrow in a brief post on X (formerly Twitter). Gawat, a relative of the late singer, wrote, “Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.”
It is understood that Rukayat Gawat Oyefeso was married to Alhaji Shakiri Oyefeso, an expert in the insurance industry. She was considered one of Nigeria’s leading Islamic musicians, known not only for her music but also for her advocacy on the importance of women’s roles in the family, which she often highlighted in her songs.
Her funeral will take place later today, in accordance with Islamic customs.
Meanwhile, Naija News reports that her death comes just two weeks after the passing of popular Nigerian gospel singer Dele Agbeyo, also known by his stage name Dele Gold. He died on a Wednesday following a brief illness. Dele Gold, who hailed from Usi in Ekiti State but grew up in Faforiji, Osun State, was widely known as “The Miliki Gospel King.”
Confirming his death, fellow musician Alayo Melody expressed his shock on social media, lamenting, “Dele Gold died? This is too much! May God stop these untimely deaths. Rest in peace, Dele Agbeyo.”
Tributes for Dele Gold have continued to pour in from his colleagues across various platforms.
In a separate emotional tribute, Wunmi, the widow of late Nigerian singer Mohbad (Ilerioluwa Aloba), shared her grief on Instagram to mark one year since his death. In her message, she reflected on the time she shared with him and the plans they had, expressing how much she and their son, Liam, have missed him. She prayed for his soul to rest in peace and asked for God’s forgiveness for his shortcomings.
