Mohbad: Music, Money, and Morbid Moments
He was 27 years old this September.
He was a Nigerian rapper, singer, and songwriter from Lagos.
Born Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba on June 8, 1996, he died Mohbad Imole on September 12, 2023, after receiving his final shot from a ‘nurse’.
Conspiracies trail the cause of his death.
The Police in Nigeria are yet to unravel the cause of Mohbad’s death as of this September.
Imole was great in life and loved more in death.
He died 27 years ago in September.
He was an American rapper, songwriter, and actor.
Born Lesane Parish Crooks on June 16, 1971, he died Tupac Shakur on September 13, 1996, after receiving four fatal shots.
Conspiracies trail the cause of his death.
The Police in Nevada finally named Tupac’s killer this September.
Tupac was great in life and loved more in death.
Music and Money: 27 Years Between
Many have described Mohbad as a star born after death.
His brief but successful career attracted the highest local and global reckoning only after he died.
His life and songs attracted many to him, but his death and struggles attracted many more to his legend.
But this morbid moment reminds us, too, of Mohbad’s faith that something good can come out of the bad.
Making the best of his ironic stage name, Mohbad (translated as “I’m bad”, but really meaning, “I’m so good” at my craft), he said, “Whenever they want to call me Mohbad, I will be like, “Bro, don’t call me Mohbad in my dad’s presence.’’’’
“So I now later came up with, like, you can do something good out of something bad. So I came up with Moh (I am) B-bright A-and D-destined.”
And really, in spite of the bad events here and there, a lot of good things have happened in Nigeria’s music industry in those 27 years that made under-30s like Imole rise to national and international reckoning in life and afterlife.
Within the period, the music and allied entertainment sector grew faster than the entire Nigerian Economy.
The IFPI noted in its 2022 assessment of the global music industry that “One of the key characteristics of today’s global music industry is the strength and success of domestic music.
“Alongside the opportunity for fans to engage with repertoire from almost any part of the world, there is an increasing trend towards embracing and celebrating local artists and culture.”
Within the 27-year period, Nigeria’s Motion pictures, Sound Recording and Music Production industry rose from a worth of N105 billion in 1996 to N797 billion in 2022.
Its allied subsector, Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation, also rose from a value of N7 billion in 1996 to N168 billion in 2022.
From the 1990s, Nigeria’s music industry saw a new wave of investments and innovation around existing genres. The industry boomed with new recording artists like Remedies, Femi Kuti, Lagbaja, and Daddy Showkey in the close of the 1990s.
The 2000s saw the emergence of artists like Plantashun Boys, Eedris Abdulkareem, Styl Plus, Tuface, Timaya, P Square, D Banj, Sunny Nneji, Da Grin, Djinee, African China, Faze, Weird MC, and others.
The next decade brought to light the third wave of artists like Flavour, Wizkid, Davido, Ice Prince, Naeto C, Olamide and many others.
Mohbad belongs to the current wave of artists buoyed by the artistic platforms and industry infrastructure built incrementally in the last 27 years.
With the rise of music artists in this period came a rise in incomes too. Clearly, the annual contribution of the Music and allied industry to Nigeria’s Real GDP almost tripled, from 0.49% to 1.27% within the 27-year period.
In the last three decades, Nigerian artists achieved global recognition. These include artists like Femi Kuti, Seun Kuti, Made Kuti, Tiwa Savage, Tems, Wizkid, Davido, and Burna Boy, among others.
Some received Grammy nominations and collaborated with international stars, contributing to the popularity of their Nigerian pop, soul, afrobeat, and afrobeats genre.
Female artists such as Nike Davies, Yemi Alade, Asa, Omawumi, Sheyi Shay, Chidinma, Waje, Simi, Teni, Niniola, and others also made significant contributions to the Nigerian music scene in the last three decades.
These musical and monetary prospects are not limited to Nigeria. The industry in Nigeria only reflects personal emancipation and socioeconomic possibilities of music on the global stage.
Global revenue from recorded music grew to $26.2 billion in 2022. This was a growth of 9% from 2021 and the 8th consecutive year of growth, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI),
Asia has continued its impressive growth streak, achieving a remarkable double-digit increase of 15.4% for the third consecutive year. This is a testament to the region's unwavering dedication to cultivating a thriving music industry.
Equally impressive is the Middle East & North Africa's third-highest growth rate of 23.8%, fueled mainly by streaming, which accounts for a whopping 95.5% of the market.
Europe, which remains the world's second-largest region for recorded music revenues, experienced a notable growth rate of 7.5%, with the UK, Germany, and France standing out as the largest markets.
The USA & Canada reaffirmed their position as the largest region for recorded music, with a commendable growth rate of 5.0% in 2022.
Latin America also experienced a significant rise in revenues of 25.9%, with Brazil and Mexico leading the way.
Sub-Saharan Africa was the fastest-growing region, with an impressive growth rate of 34.7%, driven by South Africa, the largest market in the region. Finally, Australasia witnessed a growth rate of 8.1%, fueled by streaming. We are thrilled to see such a vibrant and robust global music industry.
Makaveli and Mohbad: 27 years Between
They mean different things.
But both died in their twenties.
Separated by time and tunes, related by the stage and studios.
Separated by content and class, related by continent and colour.
Separated by philosophy and personality.
Related by street business and its accompanying battles.
Mohbad’s popularity soared in death, and thousands of people joined the procession for his memorial in cities across Nigeria and other parts of the world.
The Nigerian Parliament observed a moment of silence for him. And pledged to protect his estate.
His body was exhumed for forensic analysis in a bid to ascertain if there was foul play in his untimely death.
In the 27 years between these two passings, there were 4 other deaths of promising Nigerian musicians resulting from different causes, the Punch reported.
Oladapo Olaonipekun, popularly called Dagrin, a promising and fast-rising Nigerian indigenous rapper died on April 22, 2010, at the age of 25.
Susan Oluwabimpe Harvey, popularly known as “Goldie”, was a Nigerian professional singer and a Big Brother Africa star. She died on February 14, 2013, at the age of 31.
Obareki Don Momoh, popularly known as Kefee, was a Nigerian gospel singer. She died February 12, 2014, at the age of 34.
Nigerian rapper and songwriter Oniyide Azeez, popularly known as Dablixx Osha, died on November 8, 2022, at the age of 27.
To help musicians live better lives and avoid premature mortality, experts often counsel along the following lines:
Genre Matters: Research indicates that the type of music genre musicians engage in can affect their life expectancy. Pop musicians, in particular, are known to have shorter lifespans than the general population. This suggests that musicians in high-intensity genres may need to pay extra attention to their health and lifestyle choices.
Healthy Lifestyle Choices: Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is crucial. Musicians need to prioritize regular exercise, a balanced diet, and adequate sleep. Avoiding substance abuse, including drugs and alcohol, is essential for a longer and healthier life.
Mental Health Support: Musicians often face high levels of stress and pressure. It's vital to seek professional mental health support when needed. Valuable support networks are needed to assist musicians with their mental well-being.
Financial Planning: The music industry can be financially volatile. Musicians should consider financial planning and seek advice on managing their finances wisely to ensure long-term stability.
Regular Health Check-ups: Routine medical check-ups can help identify and address health issues early on, increasing the chances of effective treatment and a longer life.
Balanced Work-Life: Striking a balance between work and personal life is essential. Musicians should not overexert themselves with extensive touring or recording schedules, as this can lead to burnout and health problems.
There’s so much good we can make from the bad. Lessons to learn to reduce these incidents around Nigeria’s music industry, and indeed globally.
We wish the departed musicians find the happiness they sought to give their fans while they were here and for the living artists a good life and success in their endeavours.
Thanks for reading this Data Dive. Have a great weekend, and enjoy good music!