Connect with us

Uncategorized

Mohbad: Death as the ultimate promotion By Toni kan …and how we killed him

Published

on

Mohbad: When The Highly-Connected Can Kill And Go By Felix Oboagwina

Mohbad: Death as the ultimate promotion By Toni kan

…and how we killed him

 

The question everyone is asking is – Who killed Mohbad?

But the question no one seems to be asking is – what do we do when we find out who killed Mohbad?

 

 

 

 

No Nigerian musician has been mourned with such an overwhelming outpouring of emotion verging on hysteria in the manner that MohBad, (Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba) aka Imole has been mourned since his passing in controversial circumstances on September 12, 2023.

 

 

 

Mohbad: Death as the ultimate promotion By Toni kan

…and how we killed him

 

There have been protests and candlelight processions in states across Nigeria and in cities across the globe.

His sophomore album, Blessed has been topping charts across platforms. In death, MohBad has found the global acclaim that eluded him in life.

 

 

 

 

He may be dead but God has answered the prayer he uttered in Sabi – “don’t let my foes rejoice over me.”

 

 

 

 

 

But such is the nature and irony of dying young and joining the 27 Club, no less. Janis Joplin, Amy Winehouse, Jimmy Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, Jim Jones. The list grows and Mohbad has joined them in Rock n Roll heaven.

 

 

 

 

 

Before we proceed, it might be pertinent to moderate that third paragraph by adding a qualifier…not since Dagrin and Fela Anikulapo Kuti has a Nigerian musical artist been mourned with so much emotion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dagrin’s death hit hard because it was not just the death of a musical artist but the death of potential. He was primed to take over from the likes of Lord of Ajasa and would probably if he had lived longer, contested for Olamide’s shine and street cred and even Naira Marley’s with the vice grip he had on the jugular of the streets in his short run. But death had other plans.

 

 

Mohbad's Mother Narrates Ordeals

 

Fela was different. He had lived long, accomplished much and his death was a matter of time what with him being afflicted with AIDS which back then was akin to an instant death sentence.

 

 

 

But Mohbad is a different kettle of fish (and a smelly one at that). He was young, on the up and has died in circumstances mired in controversies.

 

 

 

 

 

Two EPs and four to five monster hits and the Light of his Blessed life has been snuffed out.

 

 

 

Since his passing, blame has been passed around and names have been mentioned. Former label honcho, Naira Marley has been mentioned as has music promoter, Sam Larry. There is also the insinuation that he was forced to drink a substance by officials of the anti-drug agency.

 

 

 

Twitter has been abuzz in the past two weeks becoming a fertile patch with conspiracy theories sprouting like blades of corn piercing the earth after rain.

 

 

 

MOHBAD AND CANCEL CULTURE

But while the autopsy result is being awaited, losses are being calculated. Former label mate, Zinolesky has seen his American tour cancelled before it even took off. DJs and record stations have stopped playing Naira Marley’s songs.

 

Folks are also demanding that Sam Larry be found and made to answer questions.

All this is befuddling because the first reports about Mohbad’s death reveal that he passed on after being given an injection.

A nurse has now been arrested and an autopsy carried out to determine the cause of his death.

But questions remain and no matter what we learn at the end, Naira Marley’s reputation (or whatever was left of it) is gone. That is the nature of cancel culture and the lynch mob mentality of social media. Shoot first, then ask questions later!

 

 

Stop Interfering With Mohbad’s Death Probe, Police Warn Bloggers, Others

 

 

 

DID MOHBAD’S FATHER ABANDON HIM?

MohBad’s paterfamilias has also been in the eye of the storm thanks to an ill-advised  television interview during which he is reported to have said:  “look at the house I am living in”. The statement has placed a bulls-eye sign on his back. Folks are incensed; how dare he talk about his living condition when the son he abandoned has just died?

But people will die and life must go on.

That said we need to fact-check the emotional outbursts. Did Mohbad’s father really abandon him and his siblings after he married another woman?

Mohbad’s words seem to answer this question as he sings in Sorry, the first song on his debut album Light.

Daddy no get salary/Ten years I no see mummy/Step mother no care/ Landlord dey worry/My brothers are hungry/Daddy gather money/Make I go poly/I go poly but I no go class/Daddy I’m sorry/I don dey yahoo/I don dey take banku/Omo pastor ti wonu aye/Mummy just dey pray/Daddy just dey pray for me/make e better for me

When MohBad sings  – Omo pastor ti wonu aye (the pastor’s son has become worldly) – the portrait he paints is not of a delinquent father. Indigent yes, but not delinquent!

And to play devil’s advocate; what are we to expect from a father who has invested all? One who has begged and borrowed to send his son to school only for that son to leave school to become a fraudster or “join bad gang” as we say on the streets.

We could say yes, Mohbad finally made it but at what cost? Success is a lottery and when it comes to the lottery of life there are no guarantees but getting an education is a surer bet.

So, his father did not abandon him but he clearly misspoke in that interview but is that enough to also cancel him?

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE SAM LARRY AND NAIRA MARLEY ANGLE

Who is Sam Larry and why is his name turning up like the tortoise in a folktale? Aside from the fact that he is supposed to be a music promoter with supposed connections to people in high places (people who have now disavowed him) Mohbad appears to name-check him on the song, Holy:

Owo mi oope

Oma di gobe

Ma pe Sammy Larry wa

Ah

Emi ti mi o holy

Mohbad clearly had a relationship with Sam Larry, one that went south and social media is replete with videos and pictures of a cane-wielding bearded goon believed to be Sam Larry disrupting Mohbad’s video shoot. That was in June 2023.

A while before that, videos had circulated of a bruised and bloodied Mohbad who alleged that he had gone to a meeting to discuss his change of management and had ended up being beaten by Naira Marley’s boys in the latter’s residence.

These instances as well as the well-reported falling out between label owner Naira Marley and his Marlian House recording artist, Mohbad are at the core of insinuations that Mohbad’s death is linked to his falling out with Marley.

His mother while receiving a delegation told her audience – “I know my son, he told me that Naira Marley usually threatened him. Please Nigerians help me to look for him; please have mercy on me; that is all you can do for me. I cannot singlehandedly fish him out. Also, he told me the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) gave him some water in a bottle to drink sometimes ago. Help me please.

In Nigeria, artistes and label owners have been falling out since the time of Jide Obi and Tabansi Records, through Snoop Dog and Suge Knight all the way to last week when Aubrey O’Day of Danity Kane called out Puff Daddy (or whatever his current moniker is) over a request to sign an NDA.

There is even a trending story about Sunny Ade and his travails at the hand of his former label owner Chief Bolarinwa Abioro who ran African Songs Limited.

The fact is simple; to blow, an artiste needs a leg up. Cue the Svengali-like label owner aka Naira Marley in this instance. Studio sessions have to be booked. Producers have to be paid and those bottles of Hennessy and Martell don’t buy themselves. They are paid for by the label and label owner who is looking forward to recouping his investment.

So, while no one is holding brief for the alleged battery, one must also not lose sight of the fact that if MohBad needed to exit the Marlian family, he had to do it within the terms of his contract.

This is important because before he joined the Marlian family he was living in Ikorodu and going through hard times.

When he rhapsodises that “Hustle dey Odo Naira”on the song Holy, he is clearly a long way from the trenches he sings about in Feel good where he confesses that: “When I dey Ikorodu sapa mumi moma ronu, moma sukun.” – (When I was in Ikorodu, poverty held me in a vice grip, I wallowed in my thoughts, I drowned in tears).

The Marlian affiliation clearly wiped away his tears, for a while, it now seems, before things went awry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WE ALL KILLED MOHBAD

The world is mourning the musical artiste known by the stage name MohBad aka Imole but how good was he? If he had not died on September 12th, 2023, would the world have noticed him the way they did?

And if we say he was so good and so full of potential, we must ask ourselves how many shows he played this year and by that I mean how many A-list shows?

The word on the streets is that promoters gave him a wide berth because he was hard to manage. They say he forgot lyrics and turned up late for shoes. Is all that true?

but if those are lies, the question to ask is why didn’t he get the big shows? Why was he not included in trips to O2 and world tours by artists he had collaborated with in the past?

Why didn’t the millions of people who have downloaded his songs and albums since his passing do so before he died?

Did Naira Marley have such a huge influence that he stopped promoters from booking MohBad and you and I from downloading his songs and albums? How many of us even knew he had a music label or what it was called?

Bella Schmurda has acknowledged that he didn’t include MohBad on his album because he didn’t want trouble from the Marlians.

Sure he was nominated for The Beatz and The Headies off the success of his first album, but since his death, his second album, Blessed has climbed to No. 1 on Apples album charts, knocking off Burna Boy and Davido.

 

 

 

 

If we had supported him while alive, he could have called Naira Marley’s bluff and paid no heed to the promoters who would not book him for shows. He would have been truly independent with the resources to take care of his family and grow his Imolenization record label.

You and I and all those expressing faux outrage on Twitter failed him. That is a fact.

And if you don’t believe me listen to Patoranking’s hit song “Celebrate Me” where he sings “Celebrate me now wey I dey alive/Appreciate me now I dey alive/No be when I leave this life/ You go dey fake am for my wife.”

 

 

 

 

 

WAS MOHBAD’S MUSIC ANY GOOD?

Now, to the music.

MohBad stamped his foot firmly in the Nigerian musical firmament with the release of his song, Ponmo, a risqué and infectious ditty featuring Naira Marley and Lil Kesh. It opens with a reference to a woman’s vagina and then trundles downhill from there.

The streets loved it. The salaciousness , the lewdness and the seeming panting of rabid dogs after Ponmo which is shorthand for you-know-what.

Ponmo is the number 3 song on his debut Light and even though the album opens with Sorry, a deeply contemplative song about his struggles and his home situation which borrows a verse from Sunny Ade’s 1974 hit, Esu biribiri pe bo mi o, it was to the risqué and the salacious that we flocked and now we mourn.

In borrowing from Sunny Ade, MohBad was calling on the world to come bear witness the story of his struggle. Did we bear witness?

Another hit song was KPK with Rexxie from which the line “Talo so pe ko po ke –  was made a street anthem.

His first album which featured Naira Marley, Davido and Lil Kesh was clearly a Marlian House project as is evident from the production and sound except for the  aforementioned Sorry and Father Abraham which stick out because of their subject matter and socially conscious lyrics spiced with scriptural references.

The album reflected MohBad’s promise and potential and aside from Ponmo, other stand-out tracks are Once Debe featuring Davido and Cinderella. The former enlists Davido and over a bouncy beat re-christens what we know as Okafor’s law. Davido’s lyrics anticipates Na Money featuring Cave Men and Angelique Kidjo off his Timeless album.

Where the first outing saw Mohbad through prism of the Marlians,  in terms of aural aesthetics and lyrics, the second album, Blessed, is more mature, more contemplative and more self-assured and a reflection of who Mohbad is; the son of a pastor who wanted to escape a live of privation through music which he saw as a blessing.

Taken now with the benefit of hindsight, the songs in Blessed seem loaded and prescient. The first song Beast and Peace opens with “Mo silent mood but beast ni mi/Mo le cause violence but still, peace ni mi/You don’t have to hurt me, before you win/You don’t have to kill somebody before you sin.”

It appears that whoever he might have been addressing did not pay heed to his words and did not only hurt him but sinned by killing him but the jury is still out on whether it was a “win”.

 

 

 

In the second song, Sabi, Mohbad returns to church as he closes out with the already referenced “Don’t let my foes rejoice over.”

The fuji inflected Account Balance with Zlatan continues on the same trajectory with copious references to Jesu and keeping the peace but peace kept eluding him.

La pio pio sees Mohbad return to his Marlian roots with a catchy danceable tune that recalls the best of Naira Marley and here the boastfulness returns as he reference Don Jazzy in a beautiful pun –  “because I turn Don dem say I use Jazz.”

Muted are the risqué references and allusions and where there was boasting about sexual prowess, Mohbad exhibits a more mature bent of mind. On Blessing for instance he drops wisdom as he thanks God – “I’m covered by your blessings/I’m living by your grace.”

The most underwhelming song on the album is Omo mi, a love song intended for his lover but it is a song stymied by the need to be politically correct in celebrating a loved one. It never rises to the heights of Cinderella or Omokomo from the Light EP.

But despite God’s blessing, MohBad seemed able to shake off dread as is evident in his constant references to enemies, frenemies, violence, hurt and death.

In Peace he opens with – Plenty enemy wey dey follow me/Maje  ko mu mi (Don’t let them catch me).

Since his passing on September 12 and if the conspiracy theories are to be believed, it seems those enemies finally “caught him” but as he prophesied in the same song – I know there is a day all my pain will go away/ So then I party away.”

MohBad is likely looking down on us from Rock n Roll heaven and smiling with a spliff in his hand as he parties away while we work ourselves into a frenzy because all that  pain has finally gone away.

 

@Lagosreview

Uncategorized

Top 5 Most Visited Countries in The World

Published

on

Top 10 Most Visited Countries in 2024

Top 5 Most Visited Countries in The World

 

International tourism has come a long way to returning back to pre-pandemic levels. The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) reports that international arrivals reached 80% of prior levels during the first quarter of 2023. That’s an estimated 235 million tourists traveling internationally in just three months, more than double the same period in 2022. The recovery has been robust across various regions, including Europe, Africa, the Americas, and the Middle East

Why has this happened? In addition to few (if any) restrictions on travel, the popularity of online travel and booking platforms makes it easy for jetsetters to buy flights from their phones. They can compare real-time prices, plan out personalized itineraries, and pay for bookings with a few button clicks.

We’ve also seen a blending of business and personal travel into longer, more flexible trips. Termed “bleisure” by travel fans, the concept gives business travelers an excuse to book a few extra days to see the sites and even bring friends or family along. It’s not surprising to see some of these trips lean toward the more exotic, with luxury accommodations and excursions becoming the norm for trips of all lengths.

So, where are people traveling? The Global Tourism Data of inbound tourists from the UNWTO gives a peek into the most popular destinations across the globe from data collected in 2023.

1. France

100 million visitors ($68.6 billion USD in receipts)

Tourism in France took a big jump in 2023, with Forbes reporting a 12.3% increase in just the first quarter. France currently has around 29,000 tourist accommodations for travelers to stay, with hotels making up 17,600 of those locations. Luxury hotels alone saw a jump in occupancies, an incredible 31.4% increase from the year before.

The region with the most hotels is the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, followed by Île-de-France, where Paris can be found.

2. Spain

85.17 million visitors ($92 billion USD in receipts)

Spain has seen phenomenal growth in its popularity as a tourist spot, with the Spanish Statistical Office reporting 5.2 million international tourists in December. This was an increase of 26.2% from the previous December and represented part of the total 18.7% increase for the entire year.

Where were visitors from? The United Kingdom sent the most tourists (907,752 million), followed by France (819,405 million) and Germany (561,521 million). All three countries had more tourists in 2023, with increases of 18% to 23% over 2022.

Spain is known for its lovely year-round weather, which may be why so many flock to its warm temps when other places turn cold. More visitors came in January than other months, and June was the least popular.

3. United States of America

66.48 million visitors ($175.9 USD in receipts)

While the U.S. is at number three on this list, the post-pandemic recovery it’s seeing lags a bit behind other countries. The U.S. Travel Association reports international travel volumes at 84% of 2019 levels, with a full recovery expected by 2025.

Visitors to the U.S. spend around $4,000 per visit and add $155 billion to the U.S. economy each year.

Of the countries that send the most tourists, many have exceeded pre-pandemic levels. These include the Caribbean and other countries in the Americas, as well as Europe. Visitors from China and Japan have been reluctant to return after COVID. Both send around half of the tourists they used to, leaving the U.S. economy with four million fewer shoppers to spend their vacation dollars.

4. Italy

57.25 million visitors ($55.9 billion USD in receipts)

Reuters reports that Italy broke records in 2023 with more international tourists visiting the country than domestic travelers. This hadn’t happened since the pandemic.

The influx of visitors created a boon for the hospitality industry, and Italy saw a 13.4% increase in hotel stays. The 134 million registered guests was an all-time high, with 10% more total nights booked in 2023 than in 2022.

However, all the buzz about Italy caused the country to rethink its hottest tourist spots, even limiting the number of hours vacationers could visit and charging for the most popular sites. Venice, for example, has instituted a fee system to move about the city during peak hours; Capri, Linosa, and other locales created an outright ban on cars for everyone but the locals.

5. Turkey

55.16 million visitors ($49.5 billion USD in receipts)

Turkey is known for its amazing scenery and year-round popularity, and over 550 of the country’s beaches were awarded blue flag status in 2023. The voluntary award recognizes beaches and marinas based on several “environmental, educational, safety, and accessibility” standards.

Its geographic location helps it attract tourists from Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and Asia. Of all the places people come to see, Istanbul tops the list. In fact, the city was ranked as the most visited city in the world in 2023.

Each visitor spends around $952 per trip to Turkey, a 27% increase over 2019 (the last year tracked at pre-pandemic levels).

Continue Reading

Uncategorized

Laffmattazz: Lagos 3rd Coming Features Star-Studded Lineup with Dbanj Gandoki, Akpororo, Taooma, Seriki Dariya, others

Published

on

Laffmattazz: Lagos 3rd Coming Features Star-Studded Lineup with Dbanj Gandoki, Akpororo, Taooma, Seriki Dariya, others

 

Legendary comedian Gbenga Adeyinka is set to host the much-anticipated third edition of his comedy show, Laffmattazz: Lagos 3rd Coming on November 17, 2024. The event will take place at the prestigious Balmoral Convention Center, Victoria Island, Lagos, promising an unforgettable night of laughter and entertainment.

The lineup features a mix of iconic comedians and musicians, including Omobaba No.1, Gandoki, Dr. Smile, Bash, Queen Salawa Abeni, Reminisce, and a host of surprise acts, with D’Banj headlining the show.

Gbenga Adeyinka remarked, “Laffmattazz: Lagos 3rd Coming will be the biggest comedy show of the year! We’ve curated an incredible roster of iconic headliners, and I’m excited to bring this level of entertainment to Lagos.”

Laffmattazz has cemented its place as a leading comedy brand, showcasing Nigeria’s finest comedic talent. This year’s event is poised to outdo its predecessors, featuring performances from Akpororo, Forever, Seriki Dariya, Princephelar, Dee One, Taooma, Baba Alariya, Madiba of Comedy, ATM, and more.

The night will also include musical performances by Tee Famous, The Countryman, Dami Cruz, and others, with DJ Wiki spinning on the decks.

Event Details:
– Date: Sunday, November 17, 2024
– Time: Red Carpet (3:00 PM), Show Start (5:00 PM)
– Venue: Balmoral Convention Center, Victoria Island, Lagos

Ticket Information:
– Regular: ₦7,000
– VIP: ₦20,000
– Table of 8 Gold: ₦1.5 million
– Table of 8 Platinum: ₦3 million

Purchase Tickets at:
1. Ile Iyan by PODs, GRA Ikeja
2. Ofada Boy, Surulere
3. Prince Ebeano Supermarket, Lekki

Online Tickets Available at:
1. Ariiyatickets.com
2. Grandtickets.ng
3. Laffmattazz.ng

For ticket purchases, sponsorships, inquiries, and collaboration opportunities, please contact: (+234) 08156111111.

Brought to you by: Maltina, Goldberg, Ace Roots, Goldberg Black
Supported by: Parralex Bank, Enclave Green Homes, FIRS, Lagos State Government
Media Partners: African Magic, Royal Roots Cinema, Hip TV, Views Channel, Vybz FM, Ibrand TV, Rapid Broadcasting Network, City FM, Jordan FM, Rainbow FM, Mainland FM, Boom Radio, TVC, Kennis FM, Beat FM
Outdoor Partners: Nimbus Media, FPL Media, Folham, Media Crush, Elev8 Media

Stay updated by following Laffmattazz on social media @laffmattazz_ga1st for the latest news and behind-the-scenes content.

Don’t miss this epic comedy event! Secure your tickets now and join the conversation online using #LaffmattazzLagos3rdComing #GbengaAdeyinka.

Continue Reading

Uncategorized

We Must Build A Virile Legislature For The Future, Speaker Obasa Says

Published

on

We Must Build A Virile Legislature For The Future, Speaker Obasa Says

 

 

Speaker Mudashiru Obasa of the Lagos State House of Assembly, on Sunday, counselled members of the House to strengthen the legislative arm of government ahead of the future.

Dr. Obasa gave the advice in Abeokuta, Ogun State at the opening of a three-day budget retreat for lawmakers and staff of the House with the theme: ‘Optimising the legislature’s power of the Purse’ for effective service delivery in Lagos State’.

The Speaker challenged the lawmakers to be committed in their legislative duties as they must leave lasting legacies for the future, strengthen governance, responsibility and accountability.

He charged the lawmakers on improved and effective legislative oversight functions being one of the responsibilities of the legislature.

“What we do now is really not about us; it is for the totality of the system.

“I appreciate this budget retreat. Each one of us must be responsible in carrying out the assignments we are tasked with. This is very essential.

“We carry out budget scrutiny based on what is presented by the executive. Once we give a go-ahead, it means the executive must comply and treat it accordingly because it has become a law.

“Going forward, all the reports of each committee must be presented at the floor of the House. This will help us decide on how to act for the sake of transparency and accountability,” the Speaker said.

He advised the lawmakers against docility in the task of ensuring that Lagos continues to weather economic storms.

“We all have roles to play and, in doing that, sentiments and self-benefits must be removed. The day you start with self-benefit, you have become a failure.

“If you do your job the way you should do it, you will earn your respect and will be held in high esteem by the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

“We are here today again to look at how we can improve on the laws we make at the House of Assembly as well as our oversight functions.

‘Let’s continue to be dedicated and loyal and I am sure we will get there. Let’s always straighten the path for Lagosians and those coming behind us,” he urged.

In his opening remark, the Clerk and Head of Service of the House, Barr. Olalekan Onafeko, described the retreat as an avenue to have insights into the state’s budget.

While commending the Speaker, he urged the participants to “be attentive and take home fresh ideas and knowledge.”

 

We Must Build A Virile Legislature For The Future, Speaker Obasa Says

Eromosele Ebhomele
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

Continue Reading

Cover Of The Week

Trending