Nigerian singer Alexander Adegbola Akande, popularly known as 9ice, has opened up about his spiritual journey, revealing that he has been a Babalawo for over 18 years but has kept it private.
In a viral video, the singer explained that he chose to hide this aspect of his life, fearing that public knowledge might drive people away.
“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,” 9ice said.
The artiste also discussed Odun Ifa, a traditional celebration tied to an individual’s spiritual path.
He explained that, much like star signs, each person has a day of birth and an associated spiritual cycle.
According to him, Odun Ifa is a time to appreciate God for the year ahead and to seek blessings for the coming year.
“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 further revealed that his spirituality influences his music.
“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,”
“I want to start making it appealing for our generation,” he added.
