Nigerian gospel singer Bidemi Olaoba has paid an emotional tribute to his colleague, Olayemi Bolaji, popularly known as Toluwanisings, recalling the late singer’s final ministration at a worship service in Ibadan, Oyo State, just a day before his death.
In a heartfelt message shared on Facebook on Sunday, Olaoba said he wished he had known that their encounter at the In His Presence worship service would be their last, admitting that he would have spent more time with the singer and allowed him to minister for longer.
Toluwanisings, known for his song Kabiesi Olorun Ayo, reportedly slumped at his residence and was later confirmed dead, according to reports surrounding his passing. His family announced his death on Wednesday. Reports also alleged that several hospitals had rejected him, although the circumstances surrounding those claims were not independently established in the account.
The singer’s death came a day after he performed at the worship gathering organised by Olaoba in Ibadan, turning what had been a moment of praise into a painful final memory for his fellow gospel minister.
“Your departure has left a void that words can hardly express. Yet, in the midst of our grief, we find comfort in the hope of eternity and the assurance that, for those who are in Christ, death is not the end,” Olaoba wrote.
Reflecting on their final meeting, he said: “If only I had known that your last ministration would be your final one before you joined the saints in glory, I would have held you a little longer, embraced you a little tighter, and given you the entire night to praise your God and pour out your heart before Him, just as you loved to do.”
The tribute captured the pain of losing a colleague whose ministry, according to Olaoba, was defined by devotion to God and a passion for worship.
“ToluwaniSings, your earthly journey may have ended, but your ministry lives on. The souls you won for the Kingdom, the lives you touched through your music, and the seeds you faithfully sowed in God’s vineyard will continue to bear fruit and speak for generations to come,” he added.
Olaoba was not alone in expressing grief over the singer’s death, as other gospel artistes took to social media to remember him and describe the shock of losing him so suddenly.
Gospel singer Pelumi Deborah recalled their recent interaction, saying they had laughed together only days before his death.
“Three days ago, we laughed. Today, you’re a memory. An unfinished conversation, a goodbye we never said, a heart struggling to understand how quickly ‘see you later’ can become ‘rest in peace.’ Life is fragile! Till we meet again, Uncle T,” she wrote.
Another gospel artiste, Dare Melody, described the news as a “rude shock”, admitting that the loss remained difficult to comprehend.
“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,” he stated.
The tributes reflect the grief among colleagues and admirers following the death of a singer whose music and worship ministry had earned him recognition in gospel music circles.
For Olaoba, the memory of Toluwanisings’ final appearance on stage has become inseparable from the loss itself: a fellow minister who sang at a gathering devoted to worship, unaware that it would be his last public ministration.
As the gospel community mourns, the messages left behind by his colleagues point to the enduring influence of his music and faith. His voice may have fallen silent, but those who shared the stage with him say the impact of his ministry will live on.
