Lanre Alewilese, a prominent Nigerian gospel singer, has announced that the family of the late artiste, Toluwanisings, has decided to lay him to rest at his residence in Ibadan.
Toluwanisings died on October 14, and his burial arrangements have since been the subject of significant controversy.
After his passing, disagreements emerged within the family regarding the location and timing of his burial. Some paternal relatives called for a delay to allow for further investigation into the circumstances of his death.
The family also accused Akanbi Elizabeth, the singer’s widow, of planning to have him interred in a cemetery an option they strongly opposed.
Lawal Rauf, the singer’s uncle, stated that the family originally wanted Toluwanisings to be buried beside his mother in Ikirun, Osun State.
He warned that if the late singer was buried in a cemetery, the family would exhume the remains, emphasizing that he spoke for the entire family.
The singer’s grandmother also threatened to place a curse on anyone who proceeded with a cemetery burial.
In a widely circulated video, Alewilese attributed the dispute to a “misunderstanding” stemming from conflicting advice given to both the widow and the bereaved family, which he said led to confusion over the singer’s final resting place.
He noted that Toluwanisings’ sudden death inevitably resulted in differing opinions about his burial, and clarified that there was no evidence the widow herself objected to a home burial.
Alewilese confirmed that both sides have now reached a consensus: Toluwanisings will be buried at home. He urged the public to stop criticizing the widow, describing her as “a good person” who deserves to grieve in peace.
“Damilola is a good woman, and her husband always referred to her as his peace of mind, even before they married. Let peace reign. If Toluwanisings had been ill before his passing, it would have been easy for him to state his burial wishes. But because his death was so sudden, everyone feels compelled to advise his wife, which can be overwhelming for her,” Alewilese said. “This is likely what’s happening on the father’s side as well; it’s all a misunderstanding. Nobody can truthfully say they heard from the wife that she opposed a home burial. Now that an agreement has been reached, let peace prevail. Leave the widow alone so she can mourn in peace. The criticism is enough—Damilola is a good and accommodating person.”
