- In the aftermath of the sorrowful loss of Mohbad, Comedian Alibaba has offered valuable perspectives on the hidden and mysterious facets of the Nigerian music industry.
- Various suppositions and puzzling circumstances have consistently surrounded the untimely demise of the late singer.
- Some argue that he endured relentless intimidation and torment that ultimately led to his passing, while others suggest that his passing holds a spiritual dimension beyond our current understanding.
Renowned comedian and actor, Akunyota Akpobome, widely recognized as Alibaba, asserted on Friday that up-and-coming artists often engage in occult rituals before securing record label contracts.
During an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Alibaba contended that these rituals are just one of several factors leading young artists to have blind spots.
His remarks coincide with the escalating public outcry surrounding the allegations of mistreatment endured by the late 27-year-old singer Ilerioluwa Olademeji, also known as Mohbad, until his unfortunate passing on September 12.
“For me, there are some things that you would not want to do, and you must stick with it. It is the same thing with some of these artists — some of them do rituals now,” said Alibaba.
“As an artiste, you must define your purpose, you must hold on to some strong values you’ve been brought up with.
“If you are someone who is in a position with your creative abilities, you don’t need that kind of pressure. You don’t need somebody making you sign or take an oath for you to be creative.”
According to Alibaba, there exists a fervent longing for fame and prosperity that is causing some artists to compromise their fundamental values, and “this is where peer pressure sets in”.
“People just want to blow; they want to be seen, they want to be heard, they want to make money, they want to belong. And because of that, they step back from the values they have been brought up with and do what they shouldn’t do,” he said.
Alibaba made the case that specific artists are not only surviving but also thriving in spite of the demanding nature of the entertainment industry.
“They don’t smoke, they don’t hold cigars, they don’t hold the glass cup and drink whiskey in their [music videos], and they insist on it,” he said.
“Even if the choreography says it would add colour to the video, they would say no.”
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