LAGOS, Nigeria — Nigerian singer Siraheem, son of businessman and socialite Olawale Okoya, has announced that he is stepping away from releasing new music, bringing what he described as a professional chapter in his career to an unexpected close.
The singer made the announcement in a statement shared with his followers on social media, explaining that his decision was not the result of a lack of creative inspiration. In fact, Siraheem said the opposite is true: he believes he currently has some of the strongest music he has ever recorded.
His decision, he explained, is rooted instead in the demands of maintaining a music career alongside other responsibilities and commitments.
Siraheem said his relationship with music initially began informally, with the singer describing it as a hobby he pursued with friends before the creative pastime gradually developed into a serious artistic undertaking.
Over time, however, the commitment required to continue developing and promoting music became increasingly difficult to reconcile with the rest of his life. He said the past year had particularly forced him to reconsider whether he could continue giving the craft the level of attention it deserves.
“I’ve always believed in giving everything my best, and I no longer feel I can give this craft the effort, patience and dedication it truly deserves,” he said.
The statement suggests that Siraheem’s decision is less about abandoning music altogether than acknowledging the demands of pursuing it professionally without being able to commit fully.
For an artist, releasing music is only one part of the work. Recording, promotion, performances, audience engagement, collaborations and maintaining a consistent presence all require considerable time and attention. Siraheem’s explanation indicates that he no longer believes he can sustain those demands at the level he expects from himself.
He therefore described his departure as a “professional exit”, saying he owed his supporters and colleagues a clear conclusion rather than continuing to release music without the commitment he believes the career requires.
“So I owe it to my true fans and to my colleagues in this industry a professional exit. I have decided to stop putting out new music,” he said.
The announcement is notable because it comes at a point when the singer says he has accumulated material he considers to be the best of his career. Rather than leaving because he has run out of ideas or lost interest in creating, Siraheem is walking away while still feeling creatively fulfilled.
“I’m sitting on the best material of my career. It will be a shame to never share it,” he said.
That admission leaves open one of the most intriguing questions surrounding his decision: whether the music he has recorded will eventually reach the public.
Siraheem did not present his departure as an irreversible rejection of music. While he said he intends to stop putting out new music for now, he also indicated that he plans to explore other creative areas and left open the possibility that circumstances could eventually bring him back to recording and releasing music.
“Who knows what the future still holds? Never say never,” he added.
That qualification is significant. Rather than declaring that his musical career has ended permanently, Siraheem appears to be drawing a boundary around his current professional priorities. His decision concerns the release and professional pursuit of music at this stage of his life, while leaving room for a different relationship with the art in the future.
He also made clear that music itself will remain important to him, even if he steps away from the commercial side of the industry.
Siraheem described music as something therapeutic, suggesting that his connection with songwriting and recording extends beyond the demands of a professional career. For many musicians, creative expression can remain meaningful even when the pressures associated with releasing and promoting work become difficult to sustain.
His comments therefore point to a distinction between making music and maintaining a music career. The former may continue to provide personal fulfilment, while the latter requires a level of public commitment that Siraheem currently feels unable to provide.
The singer ended his announcement by expressing appreciation to the community that supported him throughout his time in the industry. His message acknowledged the role of fans, colleagues and others who contributed to his journey, even as he chose to step away from the public-facing side of his musical career.
Siraheem’s decision also offers a reminder that an artist’s relationship with the entertainment industry does not always follow a straightforward path of releasing music indefinitely. Careers can be shaped by changing priorities, personal responsibilities and the recognition that continuing professionally requires a commitment an artist may no longer be prepared to make.
In Siraheem’s case, the decision is particularly striking because he says he is leaving with unfinished creative potential rather than creative exhaustion. The idea that an artist could possess what he considers the strongest material of his career and still choose not to release it underscores the seriousness of his decision.
For his existing listeners, that unreleased material may become one of the most tantalising parts of the announcement. Siraheem has not indicated that the music will be made available immediately, and his statement suggests that he is prepared to leave some of his latest work unheard.
At the same time, his “never say never” remark means the door has not been completely closed.
A future change in circumstances could alter his decision, potentially allowing him to revisit the recordings he has made or return to the industry in another capacity. Whether that happens remains uncertain.
For now, however, Siraheem is choosing to step away on his own terms.
His announcement marks the end of his current chapter as a music-release artist, but not necessarily the end of his creative life. He intends to explore other fields, retain music as a personal and therapeutic outlet, and leave open whatever possibilities the future may bring.
The most striking element of his farewell may ultimately be the contradiction at its centre: Siraheem says he is walking away from music professionally at precisely the moment he believes he has created the best material of his career.
For his fans, that makes the exit both a goodbye and an unanswered question. The music may remain unheard, or circumstances may eventually persuade him to change his mind.
For now, Siraheem’s message is clear: he is stepping back from the professional demands of releasing music, grateful for the journey he has taken and unwilling to continue unless he can give the craft the full dedication he believes it deserves.
‘I’m Sitting on the Best Material of My Career’ — Siraheem Announces Exit From Music
