Nigerian singer Shola Allyson has revealed that she allegedly lost opportunities to perform in the United States after inviting Muslim actor Lateef Adedimeji to one of her programmes.

Allyson made the disclosure while speaking at a recent event, where she recounted an experience involving a pastor who had initially arranged for her to be recommended for engagements during her time in the US.

According to the singer, the expected bookings did not materialise after organisers reportedly learned that she had featured Adedimeji, who is a Muslim, at her programme.

“They said they won't call me for jobs in America because I invited a Muslim to my programme,” Allyson said while recounting the experience.

Her revelation has renewed conversations about religion, artistic collaboration and the boundaries sometimes placed on entertainers working within faith-based spaces.

The singer did not identify the pastor, event organisers or intermediary involved in the alleged decision. There has also been no public response from the individuals or organisations she referred to in her account. The claim, therefore, remains Allyson's account of what she was told.

The issue is not the first time Allyson and Adedimeji's relationship has generated public discussion.

The two entertainers have maintained a close creative relationship despite belonging to different religious backgrounds. In 2022, Adedimeji joined Allyson during a worship gathering, where he performed alongside the singer before also rendering Quranic recitations.

The performance attracted criticism from some people who questioned the presence of a Muslim actor at a Christian-oriented gathering. Adedimeji subsequently responded to the controversy by stressing that being a Muslim did not prevent him from relating with Christians or people of other faiths.

“Every religion preaches love,” the actor said at the time, while reaffirming his Muslim faith and encouraging people to treat others with love.

The pair faced another round of public attention in September 2025 after Adedimeji appeared on stage with Allyson during her concert in Lagos.

While addressing the audience, Allyson described Adedimeji as her brother and maintained that their creative relationship should not be defined by their religious differences.

“Religion can’t separate us,” she said, explaining that they were both creatives and viewed God differently.

Adedimeji also defended his appreciation for Allyson's music, explaining that listening to her songs did not make him less of a Muslim.

Allyson, who became widely known following the success of her 2003 album Eji Owuro, is recognised for music that draws heavily from Yoruba language, traditional sounds and spiritual themes.

Her musical journey has also crossed different religious and cultural environments. In an earlier interview, she disclosed that she attended an Islamic school as a child before later receiving musical training in church settings, including Celestial Church and Anglican Church.

For now, Allyson has not disclosed the identities of the US organisers who allegedly withdrew the opportunities, and there is no independent confirmation from those involved.

Her comments nevertheless put the long-running discussion about religious boundaries in Nigerian entertainment back in the spotlight, particularly where artists work across faiths and appear together on platforms associated with Christian or Muslim audiences.