Nigerian singer Sola Allyson has revealed that her transition from Islam to Christianity was shaped by a childhood marked by family separation, diverse religious exposure, and a personal search for spiritual truth.
Allyson, who was born Rasheedat into a Muslim family, shared her story during an interview on Oyinmomo TV. She explained that her early years were spent with her maternal grandmother in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, where she actively practised Islam.
Her life took a new direction after she moved to Ikorodu, Lagos, to live with her paternal grandparents.
There, she reconnected with an old friend who introduced her to Christianity, a turning point that later defined her spiritual path.
“I was born a Muslim. My father was a Muslim. I was named Rasheedat,” she said, noting that she has always cherished the meaning of her birth name, which she described as “someone who is wise.”
According to the singer, the shift in her religious practice was largely influenced by her environment.
“When I moved to Ikorodu to live with my father’s parents, I met one of my old friends there. I used to follow her to her church,” she explained. “During those times, I would sometimes sleep at her place whenever I followed her to church.”
Allyson said her upbringing exposed her to multiple faiths.
“I read a lot. I have studied Buddhism. I read grey literature,” she noted. “I lived among both Christians and Muslims at different times, and because my parents were not present, I didn’t have much choice but to adapt. In Ijebu-Ode, we observed all five Islamic prayers. Later, when I lived with Christians, it became necessary to practise their religion.”
Despite her eventual conversion, Allyson emphasised that her spiritual journey is rooted not in rigid religious identity but in seeking God’s will.
“To me, knowing the will of God is better than practising a certain religion. If I am with anyone practising any other religion, we would naturally flow,” she said.
Allyson began her music career on January 17, 1997, after attending a music training programme at a Celestial Church of Christ, a step that further cemented her path in Christian worship music.