Inspirational singer Sola Allyson has spoken about her early exposure to multiple religions, saying her upbringing took her through Islam and Christianity at different stages of her childhood.
Allyson, who shared the experience in a recent interview, explained that her environment largely determined the faith she practised while growing up.
“As a child I didn’t have the control to make certain choices. I had to practice the religion they practiced in the places I lived,” she said.
According to her, her mother, aunt and grandmother all came from Muslim backgrounds, which meant she was raised as a Muslim whenever she lived with them.
“My mother is from a Muslim background and so is my aunt and grandmother so I practiced Islam when I lived with them,” she noted.
She added that her faith practice shifted again when she later moved into a Christian household. “When I moved to another place where they practiced Christianity I also worshipped with them as a Christian,” she said.
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Despite her exposure to various beliefs, Allyson maintained that her personal relationship with God remains above any religious label.
“Personally, knowing God’s love is more important than religion,” she said.
The singer stressed that peaceful coexistence is possible among people of different faiths and that relating with others should not be mistaken for adopting their beliefs.
“If I’m with you and you’re a Muslim we will definitely have a good time, if I’m with you and you are a traditionalist we will also have a good time. The fact that I’m talking with you doesn’t mean that I have adopted your faith,” she said.
Calling for mutual respect, she urged Nigerians to avoid hostility over religious differences. “We all can practice our religion respectfully. We don’t have to hurl insults at each other. God is one,” she added.
