Ere Asalatu Christian Song Controversy: Why The Popular Muslim Singer Performed In Church
Islamic singer AbdulKabir Alayande, popularly known as Ere Asalatu, has explained why he performed a Christian hymn during a church appearance, insisting that the Jesus referenced in the song is the same figure recognised as Prophet Issa in Islam.
The singer addressed the controversy in an interview with actress Biola Adebayo on her podcast, published on Friday, August 14, 2026, weeks after clips of him performing the hymn “Jesus Is The Only True Friend” during a Celestial Church harvest event went viral on social media, drawing sharp criticism from some Muslims and igniting widespread debate online. The performance had immediately caught attention as an unusual sight of an Islamic singer entertaining guests at a Christian gathering, but it was a specific moment in the footage, where Asalatu could be heard showering praises on Jesus Christ, that pushed the video into viral territory and split opinion among Nigerians on social media.
Explaining his decision during the podcast interview, Asalatu said the Jesus mentioned in the song was not in conflict with his Islamic faith. “This Jesus we are talking about is Prophet Issa in the Quran, the child of Mariam. Is he no longer your friend? He is your friend, he is my friend. Prophet Muhammed didn’t deny Jesus Christ. Is Jesus no longer your friend?” he said. He further argued that Islam does not instruct Muslims to oppose Jesus, stating, “Islam didn’t tell us to go against Jesus. I don’t know where they found theirs.”
The singer revealed that he had initially intended to stay silent on the matter but eventually chose to address it directly. “Although I said I won’t grant any interview on this issue, but as it is… anyone who refuses to answer a question when asked is a stupid person,” he said. He also disclosed that some Islamic leaders had reached out to him privately to offer encouragement despite the backlash. “I want to appreciate the true Islamic leaders who had called me and encouraged me to continue doing my work, that the people dragging me on social media don’t know what they are doing,” he said.
Defending the content of his music more broadly, Asalatu questioned whether his songs had promoted disbelief or insulted anyone, asking, “Did I abuse your mother with my song? Did my song say there is no God?” He also raised concerns about certain religious messaging he believes could push people away from faith altogether, citing the case of a Muslim acquaintance who reportedly abandoned religion entirely after being told that referring to God as “Eledumare” instead of “Allah” made him an unbeliever. “Help me. The difference is just the language,” he said in response.
Asalatu maintained throughout the interview that Islam is fundamentally a religion of unity, love and peace, and urged Muslims not to let social media disagreements distort their understanding of their faith. “Islam is not a troublesome religion. Islam is not a religion that kills. Islam is a religion of unity,” he said, adding that he remains committed to practising and promoting Islam. He also took aim at what he described as overzealousness among some critics, arguing that individuals should not attempt to impose religious conformity on others who bear no responsibility for their personal or financial success. The singer has since continued performing publicly, with the controversy sparking ongoing conversation around interfaith engagement and religious tolerance in Nigeria’s entertainment scene.
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