British Rapper Central Cee Announces Conversion to Islam During Livestream, Changes Name to Aqeel

London, February 9, 2026 — British rapper and singer Central Cee has publicly confirmed his conversion to Islam during a recent livestream.
The 27-year-old artist, born Oakley Neil Caesar-Su, made the announcement while appearing on a live session with streamer PlaqueBoyMax. He recited the Shahada (Islamic declaration of faith) and revealed that he has changed his first name from Oakley to Aqeel (also spelled Akil or Akhil in various reports).
During the stream, Central Cee stated:
“I just changed my name and took my Shahada, I am a Muslim now.”
Friends present during the broadcast congratulated him in a low-key manner. The rapper did not elaborate on the reasons behind his decision or provide details about his spiritual journey, though fans had previously speculated about his interest in Islam due to occasional Arabic captions and references on his social media.
Central Cee rose to global fame with his 2023 hit “Too Much” and other tracks such as “Sprinter.” He is widely regarded as one of the leading figures in British drill and rap music. In 2024, he was recognized as the most-streamed British rapper worldwide, with his songs amassing billions of streams across platforms.
The news has sparked widespread reactions online, with many in the Muslim community welcoming him warmly and sharing messages of support and congratulations following the announcement.