Veteran Nigerian rapper Olusegun Osaniyi, popularly known as Lord of Ajasa, has become a United States citizen, marking a major personal milestone for one of the early figures in Nigeria’s indigenous hip-hop movement.
The rapper shared photographs and videos of the occasion on social media on Wednesday, October 7, including images of himself holding his United States citizenship certificate and posing with the American flag alongside his wife, Funmi.
In one of the videos, Lord of Ajasa announced his new status to his fans while celebrating the completion of the citizenship process and acknowledging the United States as his new country.
The announcement quickly attracted congratulatory messages from fellow musicians, producers and fans who recognised the significance of the development in the veteran rapper’s life and career.
Music producer Olumide Ogunade, popularly known as ID Cabasa, congratulated him, while singer Abolore Akande, better known as 9ice, also joined others in celebrating the achievement.
Lord of Ajasa’s citizenship comes after several years of living and working in the United States, where he has continued to share aspects of his life abroad with followers while maintaining links to his Nigerian musical identity.
Born Olusegun Osaniyi and associated with Akure, Ondo State, the rapper rose to prominence in the early 2000s through music that helped establish Yoruba-language rap as a visible force within Nigeria’s mainstream music industry.
His rise came during a period when Nigerian hip-hop was expanding rapidly and artists were increasingly experimenting with indigenous languages and local cultural themes to create distinctive sounds.
Lord of Ajasa became known for tracks including “Ma Yi Lo,” “Le Fenu So,” “Otiya” and “Esa Lo Bade,” songs that contributed to his recognition among early Nigerian rap audiences.
His career also included collaborations and associations with artists such as 9ice, Olamide and the late Dagrin, linking his work to a generation that helped expand indigenous-language rap among younger Nigerian listeners.
The rapper has previously described himself as a pioneer of Yoruba rap, while music publications have similarly recognised his role in popularising the style before later indigenous rap stars gained widespread prominence.
Artists including Dagrin, Olamide and Reminisce would later become major names in Yoruba-language rap, but Lord of Ajasa had already helped establish a pathway for indigenous-language hip-hop within Nigeria’s commercial music scene.
His contribution is particularly notable because Yoruba rap demonstrated that Nigerian hip-hop could draw heavily from local language, humour, cultural references and everyday experiences without abandoning the rhythm and structure associated with global hip-hop.
The latest citizenship announcement has therefore generated renewed interest in his career, with fans revisiting his influence on an era of Nigerian music that helped lay the foundation for the indigenous rap movement.
Beyond the entertainment industry, the milestone also represents a significant personal transition for an artist whose career has taken him from Nigeria’s early hip-hop scene to a new chapter in the United States.
The images from his citizenship celebration showed the rapper visibly excited as he held his certificate and stood beside the American flag, while his wife joined him in marking the occasion.
The announcement also demonstrated the enduring interest in Lord of Ajasa among Nigerian music audiences, with congratulatory reactions coming from both industry colleagues and members of the public.
For a musician whose career is closely associated with the early development of Yoruba rap, becoming a US citizen adds another significant chapter to a journey that has already spanned decades.
While his latest milestone is personal, the renewed attention surrounding it has also brought his musical legacy back into public conversation, particularly his contribution to the emergence of indigenous Nigerian hip-hop.
Lord of Ajasa’s journey ultimately reflects the changing paths of Nigerian musicians whose careers can extend beyond the country while their cultural influence remains rooted in the language and sounds that first brought them recognition.
As he begins this new chapter as a United States citizen, fans and colleagues continue to celebrate both the personal achievement and the legacy of a rapper who helped give Yoruba-language hip-hop a stronger place in Nigeria’s mainstream music history.