Grief and Outrage in Nigeria Over the Death of Afrobeats Star Mohbad

The mysterious death of Nigerian musician Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, has sparked outrage and grief across Nigeria. On Thursday evening, hundreds of young Nigerians gathered in Lagos for a candlelight procession to honor the late Afrobeats star, whose passing has ignited a debate about the music industry.

News of Mohbad’s death at the age of 27 in a clinic, following treatment for an ear infection, spread last Tuesday. Within hours of his death, videos on social media showed his family burying him, with his neck bent unnaturally to fit into the coffin. His wife and infant son were notably absent from the funeral.

These images, along with footage of attacks allegedly sponsored by fellow musician Naira Marley, who owns the record label Marlian Records that Mohbad was signed to until last year, have triggered nationwide outrage.

As a result, protests have taken place, and on Thursday, a procession of youths marched to a tribute concert, chanting Mohbad’s name and demanding an investigation. Many attendees carried his portrait or wore shirts with his face.

“I don’t know him personally, but I feel really sad and heartbroken,” said 25-year-old Temitope Keji, who attended the concert. “If the case had come out more clearly, maybe Nigerians would have fought for him the way they are supporting him now. Maybe he wouldn’t be dead now.”

The police have been slow to act but exhumed Mohbad’s body for an autopsy on Thursday. Lagos state governor Babajide Sanwoolu has also called for a thorough investigation and revealed that he has invited Nigeria’s secret police to assist.

Videos circulating online show Mohbad fleeing from assailants, being beaten, or bleeding from open wounds. Fans have accused Naira Marley, who was arrested for cyber-fraud in Nigeria in 2019 and multiple times for gang violence in the United Kingdom, of being behind these attacks.

Mohbad had left Marlian Records in 2022, citing several grievances, including unpaid royalties during his three-year tenure with the label. His baritone voice and moving lyrics had made him a unique artist.

Since his death, Mohbad’s music has dominated the airwaves. His songs currently occupy the top three spots on the Apple Music Top 100 in Nigeria and on Billboard’s trending songs global chart.

Some fans are still struggling to come to terms with his death. Keji, who became a fan after falling in love with his addictive song “KPK” in 2020, sat on the floor and cried after a friend sent her a video of his lifeless body in the back of a car.

She expressed sadness that Mohbad, also known as Imole, meaning “light” in Yoruba, was not alive to witness the tributes to him and the popularity of his music. “He has been singing about peace and light,” she said. “I pray in my heart that his spirit be at peace wherever he is out there.”

Ameen Animashaun, a 23-year-old writer and self-proclaimed Mohbad fan, said he is still struggling to speak about the artist in the past tense. “Mohbad was a true artist. He was brilliant in every sense of the word, and I hope the autopsy sheds more light on the actual cause of his death,” he said. “I think the autopsy report will give me a sense of closure.”

Mohbad’s mistreatment has sparked a conversation about how local labels treat young artists who, desperate for their big break, become trapped in exploitative contracts and face bullying when they try to leave. The Nigerian music industry has long relied on proceeds from illicit enterprises, according to Foza Fawehinmi, a creative economy lawyer at entertainment consultancy Zaeda Oracle. She emphasized the need for institutional funding and structures to protect artists from such exploitation.

Lanre Lawal, an industry veteran and founder of The Bail Music Company, a Lagos-based music consultancy, stated that Mohbad’s death has exposed a deep-rooted problem in the sector. He hopes that this incident will lead to positive change and the sanitization of the industry.

The investigation into Mohbad’s death is ongoing, and Nigerians continue to demand justice for the beloved Afrobeats star.