Nigerian gospel singer Olayemi Bayonile Bolaji, popularly known as Toluwanisings, has been laid to rest at his residence in Ibadan, Oyo State, following weeks of disagreement between his widow and paternal family over his final resting place.
The singer was buried on Monday, November 9, 2026, after a funeral service at Banjola Event and Conference Centre, No. 20, Hope Road, Alakia, Ibadan. His remains were subsequently taken to his residence, where the interment took place in a private ceremony attended by family members.
The burial brought an end to a disagreement that had attracted public attention and required the intervention of the Oyo State Police Command.
The dispute involved his widow, Elizabeth Damilola Olayemi, and his father, Muniru Olayemi, over where the late singer should be buried.
While his father reportedly favoured burying him at his Ibadan residence or beside his late mother in Ikirun, Osun State, disagreements emerged over the proposed burial arrangements.
Other members of his paternal family also called for the burial to be suspended pending an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. His uncle, Lawal Ademola Rauf, reportedly insisted that the singer should be buried beside his mother in Ikirun.
The disagreement escalated into public exchanges, with concerns raised about possible confrontation if the parties failed to reach an agreement.
The Oyo State Police Command subsequently intervened after receiving information about the dispute and the tensions generated by exchanges on social media and other public platforms.
On November 3, the singer’s widow, father and some of his friends and associates signed a peace undertaking before the Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, at the command headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan.
Under the agreement, the parties committed themselves to maintaining peace and refraining from public interviews, statements and social media publications capable of reigniting the disagreement.
The police intervention paved the way for the resolution of the burial dispute, with the family eventually proceeding with the interment at the singer’s Ibadan residence.
Toluwanisings died in the early hours of October 14, 2026. His death was announced by his family, although the circumstances surrounding his passing were not publicly established in the reports available.
The gospel singer was known for his energetic worship ministrations and songs, including A Very Big God, Unreserved Praise, Onibuore and Kabiyesi Olorun Ayo. His music attracted a following among gospel music lovers, while tributes poured in from fans and fellow entertainers following news of his death.
He is survived by his wife and two children.
His burial on Monday marked the end of weeks of uncertainty over where he would be laid to rest, as family members, friends and loved ones gathered to pay their final respects.
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