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Nigerian Afrobeats singer Wande Coal has reportedly converted to Islam as he celebrated his 41st birthday, following the circulation of a video showing him at an Islamic prayer gathering.
The development has attracted attention on social media, with fans and followers discussing the singer’s reported change of religious affiliation.
Wande Coal, whose real name is Oluwatobi Wande Ojosipe, was reportedly seen at the prayer gathering in a video shared online on October 18.
The report gained further attention after music executive Bizzle Osikoya appeared to confirm the development in a response to a social media user who questioned the singer’s religion.
Osikoya reportedly replied, “He reverted,” a comment interpreted as suggesting that the singer had returned to Islam.
However, Wande Coal has yet to publicly comment on the reports or independently confirm his religious affiliation.
Music executive’s response sparks reactions
The brief response attributed to Osikoya has fuelled further discussions about the singer’s reported religious journey.
The word “reverted” is commonly used by some Muslims to describe a person’s acceptance of Islam, based on the belief that Islam represents a return to humanity’s original spiritual disposition.
Wande Coal is also reportedly known by the Muslim name Abdul-Ganiyy Ibn Ojosipe, although details surrounding the reported adoption of the name have not been independently confirmed.
The singer’s silence on the matter means that the circumstances surrounding the reported conversion remain unclear.
Neither the video nor the reported social media exchange, on their own, establishes the full details of his religious background or personal decision.
Wande Coal’s career in Nigerian music
Wande Coal is one of Nigeria’s recognised Afrobeats singers, known for his distinctive vocals, songwriting and contributions to the development of contemporary Nigerian popular music.
He rose to prominence as a member of Mo’ Hits Records, the music label founded by Don Jazzy and D’banj, where he featured on several projects that helped establish his reputation in the industry.
His contributions to the label’s Curriculum Vitae compilation and the Mushin 2 Mo’Hits album further strengthened his profile among Nigerian music fans.
Following the dissolution of Mo’ Hits Records, Wande Coal continued his career as a solo artiste, releasing songs that earned him a strong following at home and among Afrobeats audiences internationally.
His body of work includes popular songs such as Bumper to Bumper, Ololufe, Iskaba and So Mi So.
Over the years, he has also collaborated with several leading Nigerian artistes and producers, maintaining his presence in the country’s competitive music industry.
Singer yet to address reports
The reports of Wande Coal’s alleged conversion have brought renewed attention to his personal life as he marks another birthday.
While Osikoya’s reported response has been interpreted as confirmation, the singer himself has not issued a public statement explaining the development.
Further details about his religious journey, including when the reported conversion took place, remain unavailable.
For now, the reports continue to circulate online, with the singer’s own account of the development still awaited.
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