Gospel Singer Toluwanisings: PA Reveals He Was Rejected by 7–8 Hospitals Before Death as Colleagues Cancel Events in His Honour
The death of gospel singer Olayemi Bayonile Bolaji — beloved across Nigeria as Toluwanisings — has taken an even more heartbreaking turn. His personal assistant has now recounted how the 41-year-old was rushed to between seven and eight hospitals in Ibadan after suddenly slumping on the morning of Wednesday, October 14, 2026 — and was turned away from every single one.
The revelation, made in an emotional interview conducted in Yoruba, has ignited outrage about Nigeria’s healthcare system even as the gospel music community continues to mourn one of its most distinctive voices.
The PA’s Harrowing Account
Babadunni Gbolabo, who served as Toluwanisings’ personal assistant, told Vanguard News that the singer had appeared to be in perfect health before the incident.
“I am Babadunni Gbolabo. I am the PA to ToluwaniSings. When it happened in the morning, I wasn’t here, so they called me, and I came,” he said.
“There was nothing wrong with him. He was very fine and in perfect condition. He just slumped. They tried to resuscitate him. They went helter-skelter. They took him to some hospitals, but they were giving excuses.”
According to Gbolabo, the frantic search for help took them to seven or eight hospitals across Ibadan, Oyo State. At some, they were told doctors were not working because of an ongoing strike. At others, the singer was simply not admitted at all.
“Some said doctors were not working because of the strike. Some did not admit him at all. That is how it went. We tried our best, including prayers. We took him to up to seven to eight hospitals in Ibadan, but God said his time was up,” Gbolabo said.
He confirmed that the singer’s body was at a mortuary as family members gathered to determine the next steps. “The family members are here. So, we are all just managing the situation, as the body is currently at the mortuary. Once the family members hold their meeting and are clear on things, that is when we will know the next step to take.”
The Family’s Announcement
The family had confirmed the death in a statement posted on the singer’s verified social media pages late on Wednesday, October 14.
“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,” the statement read.
Describing him as “a dearly loved husband, family member, and gospel minister,” the family appealed for prayers and support for his wife and children. Toluwanisings is survived by his wife and children. The cause of death was not disclosed, and the family said funeral arrangements would be announced in due course.
Comedian Ayo Ajewole, popularly known as Woli Agba, was among the first to publicly confirm the death — and his tribute set the tone for the outpouring that followed.
From Fuji to Gospel: An Unlikely Journey
To understand why Toluwanisings’ death has hit so hard, you have to understand how unlikely his story was.
Born into a Muslim family in Ikirun, Osun State, Olayemi Bayonile Bolaji’s path to gospel music was anything but straight. After secondary school, he moved to Lagos and enrolled at Yaba College of Technology, where he studied Estate Management and Valuation, graduating in 2017.
But music had already claimed him — and his first musical identity could not have been further from the worship songs that would later define him. He began as a Fuji artiste, performing the streetwise, percussion-driven genre that is about as far from church choir music as Nigerian music gets.
Then came conversion. Bolaji embraced Christianity and joined a Christ Apostolic Church in Lagos, where he served as an assistant choir coordinator. It was there, he would later say, that he discovered his true purpose — that music was not a profession but a ministry.
The transformation was total. The Fuji artiste became a gospel minister, trading the street for the sanctuary. His songs — delivered in a rich fusion of Yoruba praise traditions and contemporary gospel — carried a soulful urgency that made him instantly recognisable.
The Discovery That Changed Everything
For years, Toluwanisings released music to a modest audience. Then, in 2021, everything changed — thanks to a direct message.
Comedian Woli Arole stumbled on the singer’s music on Instagram, where Toluwanisings had only about 500 followers. Struck by the talent, Arole sent him a DM, praised his gift and promised to share his song.
That single act of generosity became the big break. Arole’s endorsement introduced Toluwanisings to a national audience, and the singer never looked back. It remains one of the most heartwarming discovery stories in recent Nigerian entertainment — a reminder that sometimes all it takes is one person willing to amplify another’s gift.
A Voice Like No Other
What set Toluwanisings apart was the voice itself. Colleagues consistently describe it as unique — a rich, emotive instrument that could move seamlessly between fiery praise and tender worship.
Woli Agba’s tribute captured it best: “Sunset at Midday. Ah! Toluwanisings! An angel just passed on. A VERY UNIQUE VOICE has dropped the microphone and walked off the stage just like that. What a painful and heartbreaking loss!”
He lamented the loss of a voice that had brought joy to listeners and touched lives through music, describing the sudden departure as difficult to comprehend and accept.
Gospel singer Olaoba recalled the late singer’s final ministration, while Dare Justified wrote: “Such a rude shock… This one hits differently. It still feels so unreal. Even in our pain, we judge You faithful, Lord. Rest well, God’s soldier. Until we meet again.”
Singer Pelumi Deborah, who had spent time with him just three days before his death, wrote: “Three days ago, we laughed. Today, you’re a memory. An unfinished conversation, a goodbye we never said, and a heart struggling to understand how quickly ‘see you later’ can become ‘rest in peace.’ Life is fragile! Oh, so painfully fragile. Till we meet again, Egbon T.”
Nollywood’s Jaiye Kuti shared a video of himself singing Toluwanisings’ songs alongside a tribute praying for the repose of his soul. Singer and entertainer Bimpe Akintunde, popularly known as Wasila Coded, expressed concern for the late singer’s wife and children, recalling that she had hoped he would recover before accepting his death as an act of God.
Events Cancelled Across the Gospel Community
The grief has been so profound that it has reshaped the gospel calendar. Three major organisers have cancelled or postponed their events in honour of the late singer.
Kaywonder, the singer behind “Oke Nla,” announced the postponement of the seventh edition of the Invasion Praise Concert, which had been scheduled for Sunday, October 18, at 2pm.
“Following the heartbreaking loss of one of the Gospel minister, Toluwanisings, we have been deeply affected by this painful moment. In honour of his memory and in recognition of the grief currently felt across the Gospel community, we have prayerfully decided to postpone the concert,” the statement read.
“This is a difficult moment for us all. Although we eagerly anticipated gathering in God’s presence to worship and praise Him, we believe this is a time to pause, reflect, mourn, and stand together in love and prayer,” it added. A new date will be announced soon.
Similarly, Pure Gospel Music Generals Akure (PUGMUG) announced the complete cancellation of its 10th anniversary celebration, scheduled for Friday, October 16 — describing Toluwanisings as a beloved brother and committed member, and saying the decision would allow the community to mourn and reflect.
AY Grace Music Ministry also postponed this month’s edition of its All Sufficient Monthly Praise programme: “Following the sad and tragic loss of our beloved brother in the gospel music industry, Min. Toluwani Sings, we regret to announce the postponement of this month’s edition of The All Sufficient Monthly Praise.”
When an industry pauses its own celebrations to grieve, it tells you everything about the man at the centre of the grief.
The Healthcare Questions That Won’t Go Away
Gbolabo’s account — seven to eight hospitals, doors closed, a strike cited here, a refusal there — has turned a personal tragedy into a national conversation.
Nigeria’s healthcare system has long been a source of frustration, and stories of patients being shuttled between facilities are painfully familiar. But there is something particularly devastating about hearing it in the context of a 41-year-old man, apparently healthy that morning, who might have been saved if just one hospital had opened its doors.
The mention of a doctors’ strike adds another layer. Industrial actions in the health sector have repeatedly left patients stranded, and each time, the same debate resurfaces: how to balance workers’ rights with the sanctity of emergency care.
For now, those are questions for policymakers. For the gospel community, the immediate reality is simpler and sadder: a husband, a father and a minister is gone, and the circumstances of his passing have made the grief that much harder to bear.
A Legacy of Worship
Toluwanisings built his career on a simple conviction: that music was not a profession but a ministry. His songs spread the message of Christ in a rich fusion of Yoruba praise traditions and contemporary gospel, and his energetic stage presence made him a beloved figure.
He is survived by his wife and children. Funeral arrangements are yet to be announced.
Rest in peace, Minister Olayemi Bayonile Bolaji — Toluwanisings. The voice may have dropped the microphone, but the ministry plays on.
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Source: Vanguard News, Punch News, TheCable Lifestyle, The Telegraph Nigeria, New Telegraph. PA’s account via Vanguard News; family statement via the singer’s verified social media pages.