Death of MohBad

The Nigerian music scene is still in shock over the death of popular rapper and singer Mohbad, known as Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba. The sad news has left fans and the entertainment industry deeply saddened. The news of Mohbad’s death was confirmed by a close associate, bringing immense sorrow to the music world. He was celebrated for songs like “KPK” and had a significant impact on the industry.

On 12 September 2023, Nigerian musician MohBad allegedly died of an ear infection in Lagos, at the age of 27. The nurse who administered the Tetanus vaccine on him was reportedly arrested and found to be an unlicensed nurse on 19 September 2023 by the Lagos State Police Command.

Mohbad recently talked about his album to the Guardian, saying, “I feel so good; I feel blessed because it wasn’t that really easy putting all that music together for the progress. What I heard about the project after dropping makes me feel good, makes me feel great.” I think this guy just wanted to be decent and do his music successfully without being rough or getting involved in dirty stuff that a lot of people do in the industry. You can tell he had a warm spirit. 

I chose to take my time to really understand what is happening regarding Mohbad’s death and it’s so painful that the majority of us only listen to beats and sounds in music but never pay attention to the lyrics. In this act, Mohbad mimics the late American rapper Tupac, whose death at 26 in 1996 has immortalised his art and himself. His words and lyrics today are still being fetched and scrutinised with social and philosophical lenses and are branded inspired. He, too, like Mohbad, died in controversial circumstances, and 27 years later, his murder has not been conclusively resolved.

Mohbad is mysterious, there is just something about him. He’s a whole lot of light that many tried to dim but something about light is you can’t kill it even when it’s dead. The guy died and became the biggest phenomenon in the Nigerian music space everyone forgot about Davido, Wizkid, Burna Boy and even legends started getting cancelled.

The kind of media content, news articles, videos and gossip pieces that have been churned out about the late artiste has been frankly overwhelming. There have been nationwide protests demanding justice for him. Almost every YouTuber, blogger and wannabe gossip columnist is coming up with ‘scoops’ that are getting wilder by the day—he was poisoned, he was murdered, his wife was unfaithful, his son was not his, he was a saint.

In his long-lasting feud with his fellow artiste, Naira Marley, Mohbad had apparently filed a petition to the police accusing a certain Sam Larry Elegushi and others of attacking him at a video shoot, armed with weapons, inflicting injuries on him and damaging property worth millions. This was in June 2023. Three months later, the artiste turns up dead. Did the police act on his complaints about threats to his life? Did they investigate his claims? The police failed Mohbad. The only way to heal the pains of the family and state the rage of the justice mob is for the investigations to be speedy, efficient and transparent. After all, rumours thrive in the absence of valid information.

After much reflection on Mohbad’s death and the reactions that followed, I came to the following conclusion. The moment your star of greatness shines enemies abound, greatness attracts both the good the bad and the ugly, beware of those who come to you when your light begins to shine some of them are vultures waiting to feast on your carcass when you are gone. 

Your worst enemy may be your closest friend even the Bible says that a man’s enemy is a member of his household. If the enemy in the house does not sell you off the one outside will not buy you. All that glitters is not gold some dishes offered to you on a platter of gold are poisons meant to kill you, learn to turn down some offers no matter how juicy they appear. 

God’s time is the best there is no shortcut to achieving success in life take one step at a time until you get there, if your destiny helpers have not shown up do not go to the devil for help you never may live to enjoy it. The hands of flesh will always fail you trust in God and look up to him always for help. Never enter into any term of agreement that you are not sure how the end will look. Many people have used their own hands to sign their own death without knowing. His music lives on. His spirit lives on. Mohbad lives on. Let’s remember him for his talent, for his spirit. Let’s celebrate his life… Rest in Heavenly Perfect Peace –IMOLE.