Lord of Ajasa becomes US citizen

Yoruba rapper Olusegun “Lord of Ajasa” Osaniyi has announced that he has become a United States citizen.

The 44-year-old, known for delivering his songs primarily in Yoruba, shared the news in a video on his Instagram Story on Wednesday.

In the video, Lord of Ajasa appeared alongside his wife, Funmi, who celebrated the achievement and urged him to tell his fans about his new status.

He held up his US citizenship certificate while posing with the American flag.

He said: “My fans, I’m now a US citizen; you all should know. This is my new country’s flag. I’m now fighting for my new country.”

Congratulations

He also shared a photograph of himself and his wife posing with the American flag in another post.

The post attracted reactions from fans and colleagues, who took to the rapper’s comment section to celebrate his achievement.

Music producer Olumide “ID Cabasa” Ogunade, actors Kunle Afod and Yemi Solade, and singer 9ice were among those who sent congratulatory messages.

Lord of Ajasa

The Ondo-born artiste is recognised for his role in the early development of indigenous-language rap in Nigeria, helping the genre gain wider acceptance among mainstream music audiences.

Early in his career, he collaborated with several prominent Nigerian musicians, including 9ice, Olamide, and the late Da Grin.

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His musical journey has also been marked by periods of difficulty. The rapper reduced his involvement in full-time music around 2019 as he dealt with health problems, including a peptic ulcer. Although he scaled back his activities, he still appeared on stage from time to time.

His announcement of his US citizenship has brought renewed attention to his career and contribution to Nigerian hip-hop.

Fans have also revisited his long-standing association with the United States, where he frequently travelled for performances and other events. Over the years, those trips prompted speculation about a possible move.

He broke into prominence with “Ma Yi Lo”, a song released in 2000. The rapper has since released a string of songs, including “Le Fenu So”, “Oti Ya”, “Ara Awe”, “Lacasera”, “Who Be Dat”, “Halelluya”, “Bi Ere”, “Tete Wa”, “Ojumo Re”, “Aye Mon” and “Lori Ila”, among others.