By Abigail Philip David
Nigerian singer Jaywon Juwonlo has faced backlash from fans after sharing photos of his visit to the gravesite of late music icon, Sound Sultan. The singer took to his social media pages to post images of himself at the graveside, paying tribute to Sound Sultan, whom he described as a mentor full of wisdom and inspiration. Jaywon expressed that while Sound Sultan may be gone, his legacy remains with them.
However, not all fans were pleased with the gesture. Some criticized Jaywon for using the visit as content for social media. One fan, Frankie Pen 2021, commented, “Snapping at people’s graves for social media and you claim to love them. Bad publicity.” Another user, General Vibes Only, wrote, “What you all do for PR.”
Sound Sultan passed away on July 11, 2021, after a battle with Angioimmunoblastic T-cell Lymphoma, a form of throat cancer. Before his death, he underwent chemotherapy in the United States. Several celebrities, including 2Baba, paid tribute at his graveside in the U.S., along with Emma Ugolee and Frankie J.
Marking the first anniversary of Sound Sultan’s passing in 2022, 2Baba shared how deeply he missed his friend. In early 2023, he once again penned an emotional note, vowing to keep celebrating Sound Sultan’s memory. He reminisced about their shared dreams for Nigerian and African music, expressing that many of their aspirations had been realized.
While Jaywon’s intentions may have been heartfelt, the public documentation of his visit sparked debate on the appropriateness of turning such moments into social media content.
