Nigerian singer, Deborah Oluwaseyi Joshua, popularly known as Seyi Shay, has spoken about the criticism and rumours she faced during the early stage of her music career, including claims that she was a member of the Illuminati.

The 39-year-old artiste shared her experience in a recent interview where she reflected on her journey in the Nigerian music industry after returning to the country.

According to her, many Nigerians did not understand her sound at the time, which led to misconceptions about her music and style. She described the period as one of self-discovery that helped shape her artistry.

She said, “The game has changed. I have noticed isolation (since I came to Nigeria). I know that is not necessarily the good word for a lot of people. Some people might say isolation is bad, but for me, brilliant. The best three years of my life.”

“It has been discovering new artistes, playlists. Dining out, what sounds I really like and the ones I do not really like. Just literally being a consumer. And it has been incredible. Now I know the music I have is really the right music. It is original, authentic, and it is fresh.”

Seyi Shay recalled the strong criticism that followed the release of her music videos for Crazy, Irawo and Mary. She noted that the backlash peaked with the 2019 visuals for Mary, which featured rapper Phyno.

“I have been able to put a lot of thought into my project and have been very happy with it. When I started, most Nigerians did not get my sound. I remember videos like ‘Mary’, ‘Irawo’, ‘Crazy’,” she said.

“I got such much stick for ‘Crazy’ even though Wizkid was in it, they were like this is wild. And then with ‘Mary’ with Phyno.”

“That was when I joined the Illuminati. That was when it was official. I was an Illuminati member,” she said, recalling the allegations with a touch of irony.

The Illuminati is widely believed to be a powerful secret group with alleged members in politics, business and entertainment. Over the years, several celebrities have been linked to it through rumours, though no evidence has ever been found.

Seyi Shay’s story reflects how early misconceptions shaped public perception of her music before her sound gained wider acceptance.