Veteran Nigerian rapper Olusegun Osaniyi, better known as Lord of Ajasa, has officially become a United States citizen.
The Yoruba rap pioneer shared the news with his followers on Instagram on Wednesday, posting photographs and videos from the milestone, including an image of his American citizenship certificate.
In one of the photographs, Lord of Ajasa posed alongside his wife with the American flag, as fans and colleagues took to social media to celebrate the achievement.
Among those who congratulated the rapper were music producer ID Cabasa and singer 9ice. ID Cabasa described him as “Lord Oshi” while congratulating him, while 9ice also shared a congratulatory message.
The announcement also renewed interest in Lord of Ajasa’s contribution to Nigerian hip-hop. He is regarded as one of the early artistes who helped bring Yoruba-language rap into mainstream Nigerian music, before the rise of later indigenous rap acts including Dagrin, Olamide and Reminisce.
Some of his songs, including “Le Fenu So,” “Esha Lo Bade” and “Mai Lo,” remain associated with the early era of Yoruba hip-hop.
The rapper’s new status as a U.S. citizen marks another milestone in a career that has spanned decades and seen him remain part of conversations about the growth and evolution of indigenous Nigerian rap.
