Death is inevitable but we feel so shattered when we lose any of our loved ones.
Especially those who ease our gentle soul with their God-given talent. Giving themselves selflessly to entertain us with their soul-lifting music.
Merely listening to their songs on various broadcast platforms, be it television, or radio, we tend to develop an emotional connection with them.
Besides, their work of art in the entertainment industry is what we get familiar with. We develop an emotional connection with the music artists, and we could pick lots of knowledge about them.
So, when musicians die, the loss of these takes a greater turn on us which is never easy to comprehend. It is usually difficult to accept, believe, and let go of the pain it has caused.
Especially, when deaths take them away at a very young age, we are so broken and we wonder what their lives and careers would have been like and those they’ve left behind.
In this article, I’m going to mention some well-known Nigerian music artists who sadly died at a young age when they were almost at the peak of their careers.
1) MOHBAD
Afrobeat artist, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, popularly known as MohBad rose to fame after being signed into the Marlian Nation. The rumor of his death hit the internet on Tuesday, 12th of September, 2023.
The death of the Imole Crooner is surrounded by different circumstances. Hence, it was reportedly that it was a result of being treated for an infection by an unlicensed nurse, who was later arrested.
Reports had it that the late Marlian Record signee died at the age of 27. Ouch!
Mohbad was propelled into stardom after the release of his hit singles Feel Good, Ko Por Ke, and Ponmo which was nominated three times for The Headies Awards 2022.
He released his debut album entitled “Light EP” under the Marlian Records featuring Naira Marley and Lil Kesh
Mohbad left the Marlian Record belonging to Nigerian singer, Azeez Fashola aka Naira Marley, in February 2022 following some fishy deals in the house. He was survived by his wife, a 3-month-old Baby boy, and his family.
2) DAGRIN
The indigenous rapper and songwriter, Oladapo Olaonipekun, with the stage name DaGrin, died on April 22, 2010. You would agree with me that he was a promising and fast-rising Nigerian rapper.
All his songs were hit singles including the ones he featured artists like 9ice and many others were rocking the town Back2Back.
His death hit the internet hard, it remains one of the most prominent tragedies in the Nigerian music industry leading to a All Stars Tribute including Rugged Man, Reminiscence, Banky W, Jahbless, Jaywon, Goldie, Sheyman, and many others to DaGrin with the song titled “My Pain.”
He was reported to have rammed his newly acquired Nissan Maxima into a stationary truck at night on April 14, 2010, and was taken to two hospitals for treatment.
Unfortunately, he died after eight days in a coma as a result of the car accident. Amidst his numerous hit songs, DaGrin was fondly known for his song “Pon Pon Pon” and died at the age of 25. Kai, too painful!
DaGrin was an indigenous rapper that even the YBNL boss, Olamide Baddo had severally referenced him in his song. Some of his hit singles include Pon pon pon, Ghetto Dream, and Thank God, Kondo, among many others.
In 2010, he was nominated for the Nigerian Entertainment Awards for Best Album, Hottest Single “Pon Pon Pon”, Best Rap Act, Best Collaboration with Vocals, and the Artiste of the Year and won the Best Rap Album at the Hip Hop World Awards.
3) GOLDIE
The most beautiful lady in the music industry, Susan Oluwabimpe Harvey popularly known by her stage name “Goldie.” Her music videos are always top-notch and her taste for fashion is incomparable.
She was a Big Brother Africa star during the seventh season in 2012 but was evicted as the eighteenth candidate. She has also won several African music awards including a Top Naija Music Award.
Her genre of music was R&B, pop, rap, and electro-pop and some of her hit singles are Jawo Jawo featuring Jaywon (Oba Orin), Don’t Touch featuring Eldee, Who We Are, Point and Kill, Breathe Again, amongst others.
She died on February 14, 2013, having complained of a severe headache shortly after returning to Nigeria from the US where she had attended the music industry’s Grammy Awards and was rushed to a hospital in Lagos, where she was later declared dead.
4) OSINACHI
The Nigerian Gospel Artist, Osinachi Nwachukwu was a lead singer with Dunamis International Gospel Centre. The Ekwueme Crooner Rose took stardom after featuring Prospa Ochimana in the hit single “Ekwueme.”
When the rumor of her death hit the net, lots of people did not want to believe it. I was in church with my sanitation crew and the heart-breaking news got almost everyone trembling because we were yet to wrap our heads around it. But it is what it is.
Her death was officially declared on the 8th of April, 2022 which was caused as a result of marital abuse. Report had it that her husband, Peter Nwachukwu was responsible which he denied. He was detained and he is still being tried at the Abuja High Court.
5) SOUND SULTAN
Kennies Music Superstar, Olanrewaju Abdul-Ganiu Fasasi, was a Nigerian rapper, singer, comedian, songwriter, and actor.
He was regarded as one of the pacesetters of modern hip-hop music in Nigeria because of his unique style of music. He was an advocate of kicking against poverty, and corruption in Nigeria.
“Oyinbo say na BODMAS we go use to solve Mathematics, na Jagbajantis carry biro” The jams were hot everywhere in early 2000 under the record label Kennis Music.
The Jagbajantis Crooner has started winning awards right from his early career stage in talent-hunt shows. That shows the reason why he loves getting involved in organized talent hunt shows.
In 2012, his Back From the Future album was nominated for The Album of the Year in The Headies Award. He has featured numerous artists such as 2Face Idibia, Faze, Sean Tizzle, and so on.
Sound Sultan married his long-term girlfriend Chichi Morah, and now, they have three children.
On May 12, 2021, it was reported that Sound Sultan was somewhere in the USA receiving chemotherapy as he was reportedly diagnosed with Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma.
Unfortunately, He could not beat the chronic disease and died on July 11, 2021, at the age of 44. His death was a pathetic one but he died as a legend in the music industry.
6) KEFEE
The Nigerian gospel singer Obareki Don Momoh, popularly known as Kefee came into the limelight with a hit single titled “Kokoroko.”
The song was on the lips of every Nigerian in churches, schools, and event centers. I can remember lots of schools used this song as their choreography with different dance steps.
It was hard to believe when it was heard that the Kokoroko Crooner was lost to the hands of death. She was reported to have fallen into a coma while on a flight to Chicago, United States of America.
The plane was forced to make an emergency landing and she was rushed into the Intensive Care Unit of a hospital in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, she passed on to the world of the dead. It was a painful one.
She died on February 12, 2014, at the age of 34. The Award winner was awarded the International Young Ambassador for Peace Award in 2009 and also won the 2010 Headies Awards for Best Collaboration with Timaya for “Kokoroko”.
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