By Our Reporter
Popular Fuji musician, Saheed Osupa, has stirred widespread reactions after openly admitting to using “juju” (traditional spiritual practices) to enhance his success.
The singer, whose real name is Saheed Okunola, made the remark during a live performance at the 52nd birthday celebration of veteran Nollywood actor Fatai Odua, popularly known as Lalude, on March 30, 2026.
In a video that began trending on Wednesday, Osupa was seen addressing his backup singers, urging them—half-jokingly—to adopt similar spiritual means to improve their performance and memory on stage. He went further to clarify that such practices, in his view, are not harmful but serve as a means of personal progress.
The Fuji star also revealed that he had previously been advised to publicly deny engaging in such practices but chose to remain honest about it.
According to him, he does not use “juju” for harmful purposes but rather as a means to achieve success and personal advancement. He added that he regularly pays homage to Ifa, describing it as a spiritual system worthy of reverence.
Osupa further argued that many people engage in similar practices privately, while he prefers to be open about his beliefs. He dismissed claims that he relies solely on religious texts such as the Bible or the Quran.
His comments have since sparked criticism, particularly among Islamic clerics and followers who expressed disappointment over his statements.
One cleric, identified as Alagusiy on TikTok, urged the musician to abandon such practices and return fully to God, insisting that his success was divinely ordained rather than spiritually engineered. Another commentator, Uwais Lukman, questioned Osupa’s religious standing, noting that his continued involvement in music contradicts strict Islamic teachings.
A separate commentator, known as General Tom, accused the singer of disrespecting God and suggested that his beliefs may have been influenced by interactions with certain clerics.
Responding to the backlash, Osupa maintained that he respects both Islam and Christianity, acknowledging figures like Jesus Christ and Prophet Muhammad as being of God. However, he criticized what he described as hypocrisy and insincerity among some religious adherents.
Despite the controversy, the Fuji star did not retract his earlier statements, reinforcing his stance on the role of traditional spirituality in his life and career.