The end of a life often leaves behind questions, memories and moments that are difficult to put into words. For some, the hardest part is not finding the right words to say goodbye, but coming to terms with the silence left by someone whose presence once brought joy to many.
For the family, friends and fans of gospel singer Toluwanisings, the past few weeks have been a difficult period, with his absence still hard to accept.
A Final Farewell Announced Hours Before His Burial
Hours before his burial on Monday, November 9, 2026, the funeral arrangements for gospel singer Olayemi Bayonile Bolaji, popularly known as Toluwanisings, were released on his official Instagram account.
The funeral flyer, titled Order of Funeral Arrangements, carried the inscription, “Forever in our Hearts, always in our Lives.”
According to the announcement, the lying-in-state was scheduled to hold between 9am and 10am, while the burial service was fixed for 10am to 11am.
The venue was listed as Banjola Event and Conference Centre, No. 20, Hope Road, Alakia, Ibadan, Oyo State. The flyer also provided a direction, explaining that Hope Road was the road just before the Airport Junction in Ibadan.
Although the announcement provided details of the funeral service, it did not state the location of the actual interment.
The release of the arrangements came after weeks of uncertainty surrounding the singer’s final resting place, making the announcement an important development for those who had been following the situation.
From Sudden Death To Funeral Preparations
Toluwanisings died in the early hours of Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at the age of 41, though his father publicly disputed this and claimed he was 34 years old (born in 1992).
His death was announced by his family in a statement shared on his official social media accounts. The statement identified him as Olayemi Bayonile Bolaji, a gospel minister and leader of Toluwani Gospel Music Ministry (TOGOMM).
Describing him as a dearly loved husband and family member, the family announced his passing and asked the public to remember his wife, relatives and loved ones in their prayers. The statement read in part:
“With deep sorrow, the family announces the passing of Minister Olayemi Bayonile Bolaji, Toluwani Gospel Music Ministry (TOGOMM), who passed away in the early hours of 14 October 2026.”
However, the family did not disclose the cause of his death. He was survived by his wife and two children. His death came as a shock to many, particularly those who had followed his gospel music career and ministry.
According to reports, the singer had ministered at Bidemi Olaoba’s In His Presence worship programme in Ibadan, hours before his death. However, details surrounding the circumstances of his passing were not officially confirmed by his family.
Following the announcement, tributes poured in from gospel artistes, colleagues, friends and fans who remembered him for his energetic praise sessions and contribution to gospel music.
But while many were still mourning his death, questions about his final resting place soon became another source of concern.
The Burial Disagreement That Attracted Public Attention
While tributes continued to pour in following his death, the singer’s burial arrangements soon became a subject of public discussion after disagreements emerged among members of his family and associates.
The disagreement centred on where his remains should be laid to rest. His father, Muniru Olayemi, reportedly preferred that the singer be buried at the house he built in Ibadan or beside his late mother in Ikirun, Osun State.
However, reports indicated that his widow, Elizabeth Damilola Olayemi, favoured a different arrangement, with the disagreement eventually attracting public attention.
The situation became more tense when members of his paternal family reportedly called for the burial to be suspended pending an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
His uncle, Lawal Rauf, also reportedly expressed the family’s preference for having the singer buried in Ikirun, where he could be laid to rest beside his mother. There were also threats that his remains could be exhumed if the family’s position was disregarded.
The disagreement eventually attracted the attention of the Oyo State Police Command. On October 28, 2026, the Commissioner of Police, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, received information about the dispute and directed that the parties be invited to the command headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan, to prevent further escalation.
Following the intervention, Toluwanisings’ widow, his father, friends and associates signed a peace undertaking on Tuesday, November 3.
Among those who signed the agreement were Mrs Olayemi Elizabeth Damilola, Mr Muniru Olayemi, Oyindamola Esther, Babadunni Gbolabo and Comrade Lawal Ademola Rafiu.
Under the agreement, the parties committed to maintaining peace and refraining from public exchanges, interviews and social media publications that could worsen the disagreement. The police also warned against spreading unverified allegations or using representatives and associates to continue the public exchanges.
The intervention eventually paved the way for the singer’s burial, which took place on Monday, November 9, in Ibadan.
Remembering Toluwanisings: The Gospel Singer And The Legacy He Left Behind
Beyond the circumstances surrounding his death and burial, Toluwanisings leaves behind a musical legacy that endeared him to gospel music lovers. Reportedly born on July 8, 1985, in Ikirun, Osun State, Olayemi Bayonile Bolaji was a Nigerian gospel singer, songwriter and music minister.
He attended Aagba Methodist High School in Osun State before proceeding to Yaba College of Technology, where he studied Estate Management and Valuation. He later became known for his energetic praise songs, worship recordings and ability to blend contemporary gospel music with indigenous Yoruba sounds.
He also led Toluwani Gospel Music Ministry (TOGOMM), which was based in Ibadan. Some of his popular songs included A Very Big God, Onibuore, E Lagbara, Unreserved Praise and Eleda.
His music reportedly gained wider attention in 2021 after comedian and content creator Woli Arole shared one of his songs on social media, helping introduce his sound to a wider audience.
In July 2026, just months before his death, Toluwanisings and members of his music crew survived a serious road accident involving a fully loaded trailer while returning from a ministration.
He also celebrated his fifth wedding anniversary shortly before his passing.
His death at a young age meant that he would not get to continue the musical journey he had spent years building. He left behind his wife and two daughters.
Conclusion
Some voices leave an impression that time cannot easily erase. Their absence may change the atmosphere, but the memories attached to their work continue to find their way into people’s lives.
For Toluwanisings, the songs, the ministry and the moments he shared with those who connected with his music remain part of the story he leaves behind.
