Saint Janet: Children Reveal What Happened Hours Before Singer’s Sudden Death

The children of veteran Juju and Highlife singer Iyun ‘Saint Janet’ Ayilore have spoken about the moments before their mother’s death, revealing that she complained of chest pain and had difficulty breathing.

Saint Janet died on August 2, shortly after performing at an overnight event in Sango, Ogun State. Her manager confirmed her death at the time, although no cause of death was immediately made public.

In an interview with Alore TV, three of her children, Omowunmi, Orinayo and Fola Ayilore, said their mother had appeared healthy before her condition suddenly changed.

Omowunmi recalled that Saint Janet performed at the event the night before her death and showed no sign that anything was wrong.

“She performed the previous night. People even celebrated her with applause. We did not suspect anything. After the show we came home and slept. The show was overnight,” she said.

She explained that her mother went to the market the following day and returned home around 6 pm. She then prepared food for herself.

Omowunmi said she later noticed that the singer was holding her chest and breathing differently.

“After she finished cooking, she checked around the house to see if there was anything else for her to do. I later noticed she was holding her chest.

“She said she felt like something wanted to drop off her chest. Her breathing was no longer regular.”

As the situation became worse, Omowunmi said her mother asked to be taken to a hospital.

“It was my uncle and my three other siblings that took her to the hospital. They said when they got to the hospital, it was not up to 10 minutes that she was admitted and was given oxygen,” she added.

Orinayo also recalled what he was told about the singer’s condition after she arrived at the hospital.

“I was told that she was having difficulty breathing. We took her to the hospital, and she was being attended to immediately.

“It was when they were looking for pulse that she gave up.”

Fola said her mother had not been known to be ill before the incident. She said the family was shocked by how quickly her condition changed.

“She complained of chest pain. It is my sister that can explain better. She was not sick.

“They said she went to the market to buy food stuff. I also saw the soup she was preparing. They came to call me that she was dead.”

Beyond her career as a singer, Fola remembered Saint Janet as a mother who cared deeply about those around her.

“She was a good mother. She always ensured that people around her eat,” she said.

The singer’s manager also recalled her final performance, saying there was nothing about her appearance or conduct that suggested she was unwell.

“We went for a show at Sango. After performing, she went back to sit among the audience, and she spoke with the organiser. She sang well and did not show any sign of sickness,” he said.

According to the manager, Saint Janet later spoke with him on the day she died. During the conversation, she told him that she was preparing soup and said she would call him again.

Saint Janet was known for her work in Nigeria’s Juju and Highlife music scene and had built a career that earned her recognition among lovers of traditional Nigerian music.

Following her death, her family has set up a committee to handle plans for her funeral.

The family has also started a nine-day programme of prayers and thanksgiving in her honour. Funeral activities are expected to take place on August 25 and 26.

According to the family, the dates were agreed upon by relatives, who also asked fans, friends and well-wishers to continue praying for them during the mourning period.