Veteran Nigerian singer 9ice has opened up about a deeply personal side of his life, revealing that he has been a Babalawo, a traditional Ifa priest, for over 18 years, a fact he has long kept private.
In a video that quickly went viral, 9ice explained that he deliberately concealed this spiritual path, worried that public knowledge might alienate fans.
“I’ve been a Babalawo now for more than 18 years, but I hide. Because if you know, you will run away from me. So I’ve been hiding it,” he said.
The singer also shared insights about Odun Ifa, a traditional celebration aligned with an individual’s spiritual cycle. He likened it to star signs, explaining that each person has a day of birth with a corresponding spiritual rhythm. Odun Ifa, according to 9ice, is a period for giving thanks to God for past blessings and seeking guidance for the year ahead.
“When we do our Odun Ifa, we are appreciating God for what he has done before, and then you preparing that night for the next three days that the year that is yet to come. Please guide me, tell me what I need to know,” he said.
9ice also discussed how his spiritual life influences his music, noting that his songs often reflect his devotion and traditional beliefs.
“I just thought, which topic of the song do I like to talk about to let my people know my kind of God. When I want to sing about my God, it is so traditional; there is a way we sing about my God,” he shared.
He added that he hopes to modernize this spiritual storytelling to resonate with younger generations:
“I want to start making it appealing for our generation.”
By blending his music with his spirituality, 9ice continues to carve a unique space in the Nigerian music scene, bridging tradition with contemporary appeal.
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