Entertainment
Top Nigerian Musicians Mourn OJB’s Death
Popular producer, singer
and studio owner, OJB Jezreel, has passed away. Inside sources disclosed that OJB Jezreel whose real name is Babatunde Okungbowa died Tuesday morning June 14, from a relapse of kidney disease he successfully operated upon three years ago when friends, family and well wishers pooled together over N26 million to help him conduct the kidney transplant.
His first wife, Mabel, had donated one of her kidneys to him. He reportedly had the relapse about two weeks ago with his family keeping him on dialysis. The singer went into coma on Monday and later died. He is survived by three wives and 8 children.
The ‘Jiggaman’ is a renowned producer, writer and executive producer for over two decades. He started music in 1985. His biggest breakthrough was with 2face’s ‘African queen’ setting a yet to be beaten record not just in Nigeria but in Africa 10 million copies in Nigeria alone and 8 million copies internationally, this made him the most sort after producer in Nigeria and some regions of Africa.
In June 2013, he revealed to Nigerians that his two kidneys had stopped working. In July 4, 2013, former Governor of Rivers State, Rt Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, ordered that a sum of $100,000 be given to him (OJB) for his kidney transplant which is the total sum needed for the operation and also covered feeding and accommodation cost. The musician had a successful kidney transplant operation in India on October 21, 2014, His first wife, Mabel donated one of her kidneys to him.
OJB released a new track in May 31st 2016 titled “O da bi, he died at the age of 49 just a month to his 50th birthday.
Meanwhile, top music industry acts including Peter Okoye, Yemi Alade, Sound Sultan among others, have come out to pay tribute to the late producer as OJB was said to have helped build the careers of some of the biggest names we know in the Nigeria music Industry today including the likes of Wizkid, Psquare, 2-face Idibia, Yemi Alade and many more.
“We all mourn the dead, but we don’t know who goes next. Life is a lesson and an Odyssey. Till we meet again I will Cherish the memories I have the opportunity you gave us with your open door policy that nowadays stardom packagers know nothing of from Sodiyen to every other massive hit you made your humility remain unchanged. I pray Paradise for you,” they said.
R&B star, Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has recounted the early-career challenges she faced, revealing that she was once booed out of the stage while performing at a school event.
Speaking in an interview with Newsmen, the Crazy Tings crooner shared that she wasn’t only booed but was also harassed with plastic bottles.
“I remember one time I was going to perform at my school as an up-and-coming singer and I thought I was going to receiving a standing ovation.
“But I got booed. They even threw plastic bottles at me,” she recalled.
Tems explained that despite the embarrassing incident and other such rejections, she remained determined to pursue a career in music.
The Tide Entertainment reports that Tems admitted that some of the initial rejections she faced could be due to her conviction to stick to her originality instead of doing covers or familiar sounds like most of her peers.
The Grammy-winning singer said looking back now, she is glad that she didn’t compromise her style despite the initial pressures.
A close associate of late singer Mohbad, Primeboy, has appealed for the artiste’s burial nearly three years after his death.
According to him, Mohbad’s body remains in the mortuary since September 12, 2023, pending burial arrangements.
The Tide Entertainment reports that in a statement Primeboy urged the family, public, and government to permit the burial, stating, “It’s been almost three years since Mohbad left us. His body is still in the mortuary. I’m begging the family, I’m begging the public, I’m begging the government, please let’s bury our brother. He deserves a befitting burial.”
It would be recalled that Mohbad’s death sparked public outrage, protests, and investigations. Ongoing autopsy examinations, police inquiries, and legal proceedings have delayed burial arrangements amid family disagreements and public scrutiny.