Nigerian Afrobeats singer Raheem Okoya, popularly known as Siraheem, has announced his decision to step away from the music industry, citing difficulty balancing the demands of music with his other commitments.
Siraheem, the son of billionaire industrialist Rasaq Okoya, made the announcement in a statement shared on his official Instagram page on Wednesday.
The singer said his music career had given him memorable experiences, including performing at major shows and receiving recognition from artistes he admired while growing up.
Reflecting on his journey, Siraheem said his career initially started as a hobby shared with friends before becoming a serious pursuit.
“My career began simply, music was a hobby I made with my boys as a means of bonding and connection before it was anything else,” he said.
He explained that sustaining music alongside his other responsibilities had become increasingly difficult over the past year, making it harder for him to devote the time and effort he believed the profession deserved.
“Over the past year, holding that alongside my other commitments has grown harder. 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.
Siraheem said his decision to leave was also a way of giving his fans and colleagues a proper conclusion to his current chapter in music.
“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 stated.
The singer expressed gratitude to those who supported his career, saying the opportunity to pursue music had allowed him to fulfil one of his dreams.
He, however, stressed that his departure from releasing music did not mean the end of his creative pursuits, revealing plans to explore other fields.
“To my fans the ‘Siraheem music’ era may be closing, but the creative in me is still hungry for new challenges, still reaching. The future stays positive. I have plans to diversify my creative palette into other fields and I will be back with new ventures,” he said.
Siraheem also left open the possibility of returning to music in the future, particularly with material he has already recorded.
He said music remained therapeutic to him and disclosed that he had spent the past year working on what he considered his best material yet.
“Music still remains therapeutic for me. With time, maybe the album finds its way into the world somehow after all,” he said.
Siraheem began releasing music professionally around 2022 and gained wider attention with songs including Bad Bitch Syndrome, Kowope, SOWETO and TRU$T FUND.
His debut project, By The Order Of The City, an eight-track project, was released on May 1, 2026.
Despite announcing his professional exit, Siraheem ended his message without completely ruling out a return to music.
“Who knows what the future still holds. Never say never,” he said.
He also thanked his fans and his collaborators, Mr Fantasy and Mr Miyagi, for their support during what he described as an unforgettable year.
