I will get a tribal mark when I am 50 – 9 years old ice

Nigerian musician, Abolore Adegbola Akande, popularly known as 9ice, has revealed that he wants to get a tribal brand when he turns 50.

The 45-year-old singer made this known in a video shared recently on his TikTok page. According to him, the decision is to honor his father, who bears the same traditional imprint.

“When I’m 50, I’ll have the same grade as my dad. This is what I want to do for my birthday. A lot of my kids said I won’t do it, but you’ll see,” he said.

Born in Ogbomosho, Oyo State, 9ice is widely celebrated for his rich use of the Yoruba language, proverbial lyrics and distinctive vocal style. He rose to prominence in 2008 following the release of his chart-topping single, Gongo Aso, which established him as one of Nigeria’s leading contemporary musicians.

Over the years, the award-winning artist has continued to release hit albums and hit singles that showcase his deep cultural roots.

In an interview with Nancy Isime in August 2025, 9ice revealed that he is a traditional devotee. He told how he embraced faith after suffering a severe spiritual attack that left him vomiting blood for six months.

According to the singer, he was introduced to an Ifa priest who helped him recover, a turning point that made him regret not becoming a traditionalist at an earlier age.