Renowned religious singer Rukayat Gawat Oyefeso has tragically passed away.
Ilorin-based cleric Alfa Aribidesi At-Tawdeeh first disclosed the news of her passing on his official Facebook page on Tuesday, September 24, 2024.
Rukayatn was known for her notable voice and dedication to spreading Islamic teachings through her music. She was the daughter of the prominent Islamic broadcaster Alhaji Razaq Aremu Gawat, who mysteriously disappeared in 2012.
Confirming her death, her brother, Jubril Gawat, a Senior Special Assistant on New Media to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, took to his X (formerly Twitter) account. He posted a Quranic verse stating, “Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return” (Quran 2:156), signaling the family’s grief. His post quickly garnered widespread attention, with fans and colleagues expressing their condolences and sadness.
Rukayat Gawat Oyefeso had several popular Islamic albums to her credit, including Ounje Omo and Egbi Okan.
Coincidentally, a colleague of the deceased, Alhaja Misturah Aderounmu, popularly known as TeminiSuccess1, shared a reflective post on her TikTok account just a day before the tragic news broke. In her post, she wrote, “In the spirit of hustling, may we not be brought home dead,” a message that resonated deeply with her followers after Gawat’s death became public.
Rukayat’s father, Alhaji Razaq Gawat, was a popular Islamic presenter who disappeared on July 6, 2012. In a 2017 interview with PUNCH Sunday Scoop, Rukayat revealed that her father’s disappearance motivated her music career, saying that his absence fueled her determination to succeed in Islamic music.
Born in Lagos Island, Gawat hailed from Igbaja, Kwara State, and married Alhaji Shakiri Oyefeso.
Her sudden death has left her family, friends, and fans in shock.
As of now, further details surrounding her death and funeral arrangements remain unconfirmed.
