British rapper Oakley Neil Caesar-Su, known professionally as Central Cee, has revealed that he has converted to Islam, announcing the decision during a livestream on February 6, 2026. The 27-year-old UK drill sensation surprised fans with the personal revelation that marks a significant spiritual chapter in his life.
“I just changed my name and took my shahada, I am a Muslim now,” Central Cee declared during the broadcast with PlaqueBoyMax, as friends off-camera congratulated him. The shahada is the Islamic declaration of faith, the fundamental statement that one must recite to officially convert to Islam.
The rapper also revealed he has changed his first name from Oakley to Akhil, a name of Arabic origin meaning “wise” or “intelligent”. Before this announcement, Central Cee had never publicly declared a specific religion, choosing to keep that aspect of his life largely private.
Born on June 4, 1998, in London to an English mother and a father of Guyanese and Chinese ancestry, Central Cee grew up in Shepherd’s Bush with his mother and two younger brothers after his parents separated when he was seven. In 2024, he became the most-streamed UK rapper worldwide, charting at number one with billions of streams under his name.
Central Cee joins a growing list of prominent rappers who have embraced Islam, including Lil Jon, who took his shahada in May 2024 during Ramadan, and the late Pop Smoke, who converted before his death in 2020. The conversion reflects broader trends within hip-hop culture, where many artists have found spiritual grounding in Islam.
The announcement was met with congratulations from friends and fans, marking what appears to be a genuine personal transformation rather than a publicity move during an already successful period in his career.
