Nigerian singer Bella Shmurda has spoken candidly about how the passing of his close friend and collaborator, Mohbad, reshaped his view of life and forced him into a season of self-reflection.
During a recent Instagram livestream with TikToker Joblaq, the “Cash App” crooner said he has been going through a process of rediscovery since the death of Mohbad in September 2023.
“RIP Mohbad. After he passed away my brain reset, everything changed. The way I see things in life also changed,” Bella said, visibly emotional as he reflected on his late friend’s influence.
The singer admitted that Mohbad’s sudden demise hit him harder than expected, to the point where it altered his sense of purpose and priorities. Comparing his current state to lessons from childhood, he added:
“There’s a time that our parents used to tell us when we misbehaved, ‘Don’t worry, very soon you will understand.’ I’m currently in that phase where I’m starting to understand. I have understood certain things.”
Bella Shmurda and Mohbad were frequent collaborators and had built both a creative and personal bond that resonated with fans of street pop music. Their synergy birthed songs that became anthems across Nigeria’s music scene, earning them loyal followings.
Mohbad, whose real name was Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, tragically passed away on September 12, 2023, under controversial circumstances that sparked nationwide outcry, protests, and calls for justice. He was 27 years old.
In other news, Nollywood star and filmmaker, Femi Adebayo Salami, has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of veteran actor Olusegun Akinremi, popularly known as Chief Kanran. The legendary thespian died on Friday, August 15, at the age of 69, just three weeks before what would have been his 70th birthday.
Taking to his Instagram page, Femi Adebayo shared an emotional tribute that captured both his shock and his admiration for the late actor.
According to him, the loss was particularly difficult to process because Chief Kanran had only just wrapped up work on one of his productions.
