Veteran Nigerian rapper Olusegun Osaniyi, popularly known as Lord of Ajasa, has officially become a United States citizen, marking a major personal milestone for one of the pioneers of indigenous-language rap in Nigeria.
The 44-year-old rapper shared the news with his fans on Wednesday through his Instagram Story, posting a video in which he appeared with his wife, Funmi, while holding his United States citizenship certificate alongside an American flag.
In the video, the veteran artiste proudly announced his new status and expressed his excitement over the achievement.
The development quickly attracted congratulatory messages from fans, colleagues and prominent figures in Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
Music producer ID Cabasa, singer 9ice, and actors including Kunle Afod and Yemi Solade were among those who celebrated the rapper’s milestone.
Beyond the citizenship announcement, the moment has also revived conversations about Lord of Ajasa’s contribution to Nigerian hip-hop.
Born in Ondo State, the rapper became prominent in the early 2000s and is widely recognised as one of the artistes who helped push Yoruba-language rap into mainstream Nigerian music.
His breakthrough song, Ma Yi Lo, released in 2000, helped establish his identity within the emerging indigenous hip-hop movement. He subsequently released songs including Le Fenu So, Oti Ya, Ara Awe and Lori Ila.
Lord of Ajasa’s influence also predates the rise of later indigenous rap stars such as Dagrin, Olamide and Reminisce. His work remains part of the history of the movement that demonstrated that Nigerian artistes could achieve mainstream attention while performing substantially in indigenous languages.
Although he reduced his involvement in full-time music around 2019 amid health challenges, the rapper has continued to make occasional appearances and remains a respected figure among Nigerian hip-hop enthusiasts.
His new American citizenship therefore represents more than a personal achievement.
It comes as another chapter in the life of an artiste whose career helped shape the sound and identity of indigenous Nigerian rap.
From pioneering Yoruba rap in Nigeria to beginning a new chapter in the United States, Lord of Ajasa continues to write his story.
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