Entertainment
Destiny Boy: A talent cut short in his prime
Just when entertainment practitioners in Nigeria were getting over the shock of the death of Nollywood star, Allwell Ademola, the sad news of the death of young singer, Afeez Ayinde Adeshina aka Destiny Boy, was announced on Sunday, January 18, 2026.
The death of the 22-year-old rising star, who kicked off his career at the young age of 10, was announced exactly 23 days after Allwell’s passing.
The tragic death of Destiny Boy went viral after a video of his lifeless body surfaced on social media.
The death triggered widespread grief among fans and fueled speculation about the circumstances surrounding his passing.
According to reports, his remains were prepared for interment, but Fuji star, Wasiu Alabi Pasuma, stopped the proposed interment, insisting on a proper autopsy be conducted on the remains.
Since his remains have been deposited for the autopsy, the police have instituted an investigation into his death with the suggestion of a possible homicide.
As the investigation continues and the autopsy is awaited by fans and Nigerians, a viral video of the deceased artist reportedly suffering from seizure, has surfaced on social media.
In the same vein, a recording of Destiny Boy’s mother, Saidat Adeshina, has surfaced online. In the audio recording, a female, touted to be the singer’s mother, was heaping curses on him for not spoiling her with proceeds of his fame.
However, Destiny Boy’s elder sister denied the claims, saying the rift between her mother and brother was taken out of context for the purpose of peddling false allegations.
“I am Destiny Boy’s sister. I am seeing something that is going viral on TikTok and Facebook, where bloggers are writing about it. He fought with my mother. And my mum was talking to him so that he would listen to her and obey her,” she explained.
When queried, Destiny Boy’s mother said the late singer’s health issues began two years ago, and the family sought various treatments, keeping the illness private.
The ailment, according to the mother, is known by the Yoruba term ‘Ogun Oru.’ She further reiterated that it was while finding a lasting solution to the ailment that they sought the help of a spiritualist known as Ifayomi Oba Edu Jogbodo Orunmila.
She also stressed that neither the traditional spiritualist nor her son engaged in money ritual as it is being touted in several reports.
She claimed the traditional spiritualist was only helping and treating the late singer of his ailment until his passing.
Some close aides of the late singer admitted that he had exhibited the ailment, which is similar to epileptic seizures, at different times before his eventual death.
In an interview, a recording artist, Omolaja Olajuwon aka Laja Africa, who claims to be a close ally of Destiny Boy, admitted that the singer was nursing an ailment, but only a few of his friends and colleagues knew about it.
He also claimed Destiny Boy recently bought a vehicle for his father on January 10, 2026, a week before his passing.
Laja Africa ruled out drug abuse as the cause of Destiny Boy’s death.
He also ruled out money ritual as being touted in some quarters saying he was a young and promising talent that was cut abruptly by death.
Destiny Boy was widely celebrated for his unique fusion of traditional Fuji music with contemporary sounds.
His first shot at fame was performing at various carnivals, events and shows as a Fuji music act at just 10 years old.
He became a national star after he did a Fuji cover of Davido’s monster hit, ‘If’, after which he met the singer and kept on recording different covers of songs and later recorded his album.
Cut short in his prime by death, the passing of the 22-year-old singer has ignited different conversations about the musician’s lifestyle and plans for family.
The late Destiny Boy was buried in his family house in Odo Rori compound, Aiyetoro, Ogun State on Friday, January 23, 2026.
He is survived by his parents, sister, wife and a two-year-old son, Junior.
