Seyi Shay: How Sound Sultan’s Death and Motherhood Shaped My Music Break

Nigerian singer and songwriter Seyi Shay has revealed how the death of her mentor, the late Sound Sultan, profoundly altered the course of her music career.

The Afropop star, who described the legendary musician as her “best friend” and “father figure,” said she lost the desire to continue making music after his passing in 2021.

Speaking in an interview with TVC, Seyi Shay recalled how Sound Sultan brought her into the Nigerian music industry when she relocated from the UK.

“When I first came to Nigeria, I was living with him and his wife in FESTAC for a year. He co-signed me and introduced me to everybody in the industry so that his people would look out for me,” she said.

The singer revealed that she was due to visit Sound Sultan in New York the weekend he died. “He asked me to bring him something specifically. I didn’t get to see him before he passed away—it just tore me apart,” she added.

Struggling with grief, she said she barely completed her role as a judge on Nigerian Idol. “I felt like I didn’t have the will to continue to do music without Sound Sultan, my peace of mind, and my mental health,” she admitted.

Seyi Shay also disclosed that her pregnancy around the same period gave her another reason to step away from the spotlight.

“There’s no way I was going to have my child in the toxic music industry that I was in, under the scrutiny I was constantly facing. So, I decided to take a break,” she explained.

Sound Sultan, born Olanrewaju Fasasi, died in July 2021 after a battle with throat cancer. He is remembered as one of Nigeria’s most respected voices in music and activism.

Seyi Shay’s candid reflections have sparked fresh conversations on the pressures of the Nigerian music industry and the importance of mental health for artists.