Prominent Nigerian Islamic singer, Rukayat Gawat Oyefeso, has passed away. She was widely recognized for her enchanting voice and religious songs that deeply connected with many in the Muslim community. The news of her passing was shared on Tuesday morning by popular cleric Alfa Aribidesi At-Tawdeeh Islamic Da’awah, based in Ilorin, through his official Facebook page.
Her death has left a significant impact on her fans and the Islamic music community, with many mourning her loss as the news quickly spread.
Her brother, Jubril A Gawat, who serves as the Senior Special Assistant on New Media to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, confirmed the sad news. Quoting a verse from the Quran on his X account on Tuesday morning, he wrote, “Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.” (Qur’an 2:156).
His post received widespread attention, with many followers and associates offering their condolences.
However, PUNCH Online has not yet confirmed further details surrounding her death or burial. Meanwhile, fellow singer Alhaja Misturah Aderounmu, known as TeminiSuccess1, posted a cryptic message on TikTok about the fleeting nature of life just hours before Gawat’s passing was made public. Her video, where she appeared somber, was captioned, “In the spirit of hustling, may we not be brought home dead.”
Rukayat Gawat Oyefeso was also the daughter of the well-known broadcaster and Islamic presenter, Alhaji Rasaq Aremu Gawat, who disappeared under mysterious circumstances in 2012. In a 2017 interview, she revealed that her father’s disappearance had been a driving force in her life.
During a 2019 interview, she stated that she would rather stop singing than compromise her faith by performing secular music. Born in Lagos Island, she hailed from Igbaja, Kwara State, and was married to Alhaji Shakiri Oyefeso.
