Singer Sola Allyson Shares Her Spiritual Journey, Why She Converted from Islam to Christianity
From Childhood Roots to Spiritual Discovery
Sola Allyson, born Rasheedat into a Muslim family, recently opened up about her conversion from Islam to Christianity, tracing the transformation to her complicated upbringing. She spent her early years in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, with her maternal grandmother, practicing Islam under her Muslim upbringing.
Later, after relocating to Ikorodu in Lagos to live with her paternal grandparents, she reconnected with an old friend who started taking her to church. It was this new exposure that marked the starting point of her spiritual transformation.
A Name with Meaning, A Path to Self-Discovery
Even as she embraced a new faith, Allyson said she never disowned her birth name. “Rasheedat”, she noted, means “someone who is wise,” a meaning she researched and came to appreciate over time.
Rather than seeing the shift as a rejection of her roots, she described it more as a journey of exploration. Having spent time among both Muslims and Christians, she gradually sought more than ritual, she sought a genuine connection with God.
Spiritual Conviction Over Rituals
Allyson emphasized that for her, what mattered most was “knowing the will of God,” not merely adhering to the rituals of a particular religion. As she moved through different spiritual environments, from Islamic prayers in Ijebu-Ode to church life in Ikorodu, she recognized that her faith had to come from personal conviction rather than external expectation.
The Start of a Music Career Amidst Faith Changes
Interestingly, her religious journey also intersects with her career in music. Allyson revealed that her music journey formally began on January 17, 1997, at a music training session with a church, the Celestial Church of Christ.
Her story illustrates a path of self-discovery, one shaped by childhood upheavals, shifting environments, and ultimately, a personal decision to follow a faith that resonated deeply with her beyond tradition or background.