Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, better known by his stage name Mohbad, was a former signee of Marlian Music, a record company run by Azeez Fashola, a.k.a. Naira Marley.
After he recorded a song and received praise for his brilliance, he was given the name “Mohbad,” which means Moh (I am) Bad (Bright and destined).
In 2022, Mohbad abruptly ended his relationship with Marlian Music after accusing the record company of abusing him physically and had aspirations for his life.
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According to Punch reporter, Locating Mr Joseph Aloba’s (Mohbad’s father) house from the Ikorodu garage was quite easy. Getting to his residence, this reporter noticed the absence of a crowd within the compound – everywhere seemed quiet and looked like nothing had happened.
The hope of this reporter to sign a condolence register was dashed as there was nothing of such present.
Upon entering Aloba’s living room, this reporter observed an absence of any images of Mohbad. Aloba explained that he couldn’t bear to constantly encounter his pictures in his current emotional state, leading him to remove all of them.
The name “Imole” holds deep meaning, signifying the radiant light he brought into the world. Mohbad’s musical journey began with a desire to make a difference, fueled by his love for music and his father’s influence. Despite his untimely passing, his legacy lives on through his music and the impact he had on those who knew him.
Early exposure to music
On the street of Oke-Iletu, Ikorodu, Lagos State, Mohbad, was born. He carved out a unique place in the hearts of his community. This neighbourhood, which he proudly called home, witnessed the early chapters of his life. Born in Apa but settling in Oke-Iletu at a young age, Mohbad navigated the bustling streets with the dreams and aspirations of a young boy.
“He had his childhood here, but he was born around Apa. They started living here (Oke-Iletu) when he was around 10 to 12 years old,” a source and resident disclosed.
Mohbad’s father’s involvement in music paved the way for this serendipitous moment. The offer came from the owner of the house they worked at, and Mohbad’s journey in music began.
A significant turning point occurred when opportunity knocked in the form of a family friend. This friend introduced Mohbad to a potential opportunity in the music industry, where Mohbad was offered N30,000 for a studio recording session.
Mohbad’s father, Aloba, a musician himself, played a pivotal role in shaping his son’s musical journey. Residents fondly remembered him as “Omo Oba,” the son of a man deeply rooted in his musical craft.
Despite his music career level, he was seen as a meek individual, who gives freely whenever he visits the community he grew up in.
“He was very humble, he was not arrogant or proud. Within the time he joined Naira Marley, he came to the neighbourhood up to four times. He was someone that gave freely,” a video of his last visit to the community reveals.
At a stage of his life, he had been involved in carpentry work, a profession he learnt from no one else but his dad, who described this as what he loved about him.
“All his life was spent with his father. Whenever he comes back from school, he does his father’s work. He was hustling with his father’s work,” a source said.
His act of learning fast resulted in roofing the ceiling of his dad’s living room single-handedly.