Nigerians took to the streets in protest following the mysterious death of Afrobeats star Ilerioluwa Aloba, aka Mohbad, on Sept. 12.
Hundreds of young residents wore white shirts when they converged for a candlelight procession in honor of the Nigerian musician. Many of the people who attended were still dazed by the loss of Mohbad, which sparked a debate about the country's music industry.
Ilerioluwa Aloba aka Mohbad Death
The tragic news of the 27-year-old Afrobeats star revealed on Tuesday that he died in a clinic after treatment for an ear infection. Only a few hours after Mohbad's death, the six-foot artist was buried by members of his family, with videos being posted on social media showing his neck bent unnaturally to fit into the coffin.
The situation over the funeral and footage of attacks reportedly sponsored by fellow musician Naira Marley, whose record label Marlian Records the late artist was signed to until last year, triggered nationwide outrage, as per Aljazeera.
There have also been several protests and a procession of youths on Thursday that sang Mohbad's name and called on the government for an investigation. The people marched to a tribute concert with many musicians taking part.
Some people who attended the protests carried Mohbad's portrait above their heads, while others had his face on their shirts. In a statement, 25-year-old Temitope Keji, who braved the Lagos traffic to join the concert, said that while he did not personally know Mohbad, the musician's death made him sad and heartbroken.
The resident added that if the case came out more clearly, the people of Nigeria would have fought for him the way they support him now. He argued that there may have been a chance that the young musician would still be alive today.
Nigerian police have been slow to act but exhumed Mohnbad's body for an autopsy on Thursday. Meanwhile, the governor of Lagos state, Babajide Sanwoolu, joined the fray and called for a thorough investigation and revealed that he previously invited the nation's secret police to help in the case.
Hundreds Protest the Mysterious Case
While the exact cause of death in Mohbad's case is still unknown, there are allegations that the musician was harassed, which he allegedly reported suffering from politically connected figures at his former music label, according to NPR.
The people of Nigeria beloved Mohbad for his street-smart, aspirational, and relatable lyrics. The young musician was best known for hits such as "Peace," and "Feel Good." He left his former label last year, and last October, he posted a video on X, formerly known as Twitter, that showed blood flowing out from a wound on his shoulder.
Sanwoolu issued a statement where he appealed to all friends and fans of the deceased Mohbad to stay calm and refrain from making inflammatory utterances and reaching prejudicial conclusions regarding the musician's death.
The Lagos governor added that staying calm and following the legal process can be considered the most solemn tribute to the memory of the young musician, said WION News.
