Family Feud Erupts Over King Sunny Ade’s Whereabouts: Daughter Raises Alarm, Sons Say "All is Well"

 

The house of a music legend is in turmoil.

A public family rift has erupted between the children of Juju music icon, King Sunny Ade (KSA), casting a cloud of concern over the well-being of the beloved performer and raising eyebrows across Nigeria’s entertainment scene.

At the center of the storm is Damilola Esther, one of KSA’s daughters, who took to social media with a string of emotional posts accusing her stepbrother, Dayo, of allegedly holding their father hostage and “working him under duress.”

“My dad, King Sunny Ade, has been kidnapped,” Damilola wrote in one viral post. “He keeps working, but the family is not seeing the money. Please don’t book him now!”

Damilola, who lives in the UK, claimed Dayo has been managing KSA’s bookings and movements without transparency, allegedly isolating him from the rest of the family, mishandling funds, and failing to honour performance commitments.

In her impassioned messages, Damilola questioned why her father hadn't been online or reachable via phone, insisting that his wishes to return home were being ignored.

“He told my brother he wants to go home. Where is he? Where are his phones?”

She also called on the Nigerian police to intervene, pleading with fans not to book the legendary performer for any shows at the moment.

In response, Dayo Adegeye, who has been closely involved with the singer’s affairs, denied all allegations, maintaining that King Sunny Ade is alive, well, and active.

“She’s not in the right frame of mind to make those statements,” Dayo told The PUNCH. “Our father performed just days ago and will be in Akure on May 1.”

He clarified that he is not KSA’s official manager but has simply been assisting as a son, stating that the legend personally asked for his help during a transition period.

“I’m not on any payroll. I’m just helping my dad the way any child should.”

Another of Sunny Ade’s sons, David, also came to Dayo’s defense, calling Damilola’s claims “fabricated.”

“As I speak with you, daddy is doing just fine. He’s not being forced to work. He just finished a show.”

While KSA’s sons insist all is well, journalist Olawale Olaleye shared a more ambiguous account. He revealed that individuals who used to reach the music legend easily have recently been unable to connect with him, adding weight to Damilola’s concerns.

“Curiously, everyone who could reach KSA at a dial could not anymore,” Olaleye noted.

The situation has sparked public concern, not just for the well-being of the 77-year-old music legend, but for the deeper family dynamics at play.

While fans await a promised statement from King Sunny Ade himself, the incident has once again raised questions about how public figures especially aging icons are protected and cared for within their circles.