Nigerian gospel singer Olayemi Bolaji, popularly known as Toluwanisings, was laid to rest in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 9, 2026. The burial followed weeks of public dispute between his widow, Elizabeth Damilola Olayemi, and his father, Muniru Adekunle Olayemi, over where he should be buried. The dispute began after Toluwanisings' death on October 14, 2026.
The disagreement centered on whether Toluwanisings should be buried at his residence, in a cemetery, or beside his late mother in Ikirun, Osun State. His father wanted him buried in the house he built in Ibadan or beside his late mother, while his widow preferred a cemetery or church burial ground. The Oyo State Police Command intervened, and the parties later signed a peace undertaking to end the public dispute.
The funeral took place at the Banjola Event and Conference Centre in Ibadan, with the lying-in-state from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and a burial service from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. A video shared on social media showed a procession of vehicles led by trumpeters as the singer's body was escorted through the streets. The location of the burial suggests that the widow may have agreed to have him buried at his residence in Ibadan.
Toluwanisings' personal assistant reported that he was taken to several hospitals in search of care after falling ill, but the University College Hospital, Ibadan, had no record of him being brought in. Some members of his paternal family had called for the burial to be suspended pending an investigation into his death and threatened to exhume his remains if he were buried in a cemetery.
The Oyo State Police Command intervened after Commissioner of Police Olugbenga Abimbola received information on October 28 about the disagreement and the tensions it had generated on public platforms. On November 3, the widow, the father, and three friends and associates signed a peace undertaking before the commissioner, pledging to stop public exchanges, interviews, and social media publications about the disagreement.
The burial of Toluwanisings has brought an end to the public dispute between his family members. The singer's death and subsequent burial dispute generated significant attention on social media, with many fans and well-wishers mourning his loss. According to his official Instagram page, the announcement of his burial carried the inscription "Forever in our Hearts, always in our Lives."
The family has not publicly disclosed the exact location of Toluwanisings' interment. The burial has been a significant event in the Nigerian entertainment industry, with many celebrities and fans paying their respects to the late gospel singer.
Key points
- The burial of Toluwanisings ended weeks of public dispute between his widow and father over his final resting place.
- The Oyo State Police Command intervened in the dispute, facilitating a peace undertaking between the parties.
- Toluwanisings was buried at a private event in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 9, 2026.
