Entertainments
Are Nigerian Music Stars Getting Depressed Because They Fail To Blow? -By Adetayo Omotoyosi Adeolu
Since the invention of social media and its introduction into the country, Trolls have taken it upon themselves to make the lives of celebrities a living hell on earth. These celebrities are constantly trolled with insults and hurting words and it sometimes gets to them.
Social media users need to curb the way they use the medium because it could be the beginning or the end of their fellow human beings.
The year 2023 has dealt with the Nigerian entertainment world and music lovers across the country from the death of Mohbad to Oladips.
Recall that Mohbad’s death raised a lot of eyebrows on the entertainment industry and the OG’s were accused of using their influence to suppress and oppress the upcoming singers who are still trying to find their feat in the industry.
Mohbad, an indigenous rapper who was a promising artiste fell out with his record label boss, Azeez Fashola in 2022 in a very messy situation.
Since his departure, there have been allegations of intimidation, assault and counter-accusations between the two parties. A video that went viral online showed the late singer in blood stain after he was attacked allegedly in Marlian’s house by Naira Marley’s boys which the latter denied.
When Mohbad died, several videos of the assault of the singer popped up online showing Naira Marley’s close associate, Sam Larry constantly assaulting Mohbad. Before his death, Mohbad had been consistent in the lyrics of his songs detailing the constant assault, intimidation and blocking of promoters from booking him for shows by Marlian Records.
In an interview with City Fm 105.1 in Lagos said that a promoter contacted his ex-label, Marlian Records for a show and the record label informed the promoter that he was not in the right state of mind to perform at shows.
The revelations of the late Mohbad threw up many questions about how dark the Nigerian entertainment industry is. There were also allegations of the existence of a cult group in the industry and if you don’t belong it will be hard to make headway.
Two months after the death of the singer, the music industry is once again thrown into mourning with the announcement that rapper, Oladips died in circumstances that is suspected of depression.
The manner Oladips died is quite similar to that of Mohbad because he also fell out with his record label boss, Reminisce who is a rapper himself. Although, unlike Mohbad’s case, Oladips was not assaulted, he peacefully departed Edge Records but the situation sank him into depression which he battled till his last day on earth.
It could be said that the pressure on these celebrities by the same society they seek to entertain is proving to be too much for them to handle.
As humans, celebrities like Oladips, Mohbad and countless others have dreams like many other Nigerians and when they fall short of them, they sometimes get depressed.
Omah Lay, another Nigerian singer has revealed severally how he’s also battling depression amid the fame his celebrity status bestowed on him.
As fans express worry about the growing trend of depression that is gradually creeping into the lives of Nigerian singers, it is noteworthy to note the influence that drugs play in making the situation worse.
Indeed some of these singers often use drugs as a coping mechanism once their music career starts flopping or they no longer get the attention of the music lovers.
One must also not forget the role of social media in this worrying trend that is now gaining the attention of music lovers in Nigerians. Since the invention of social media and its introduction into the country, Trolls have taken it upon themselves to make the lives of celebrities a living hell on earth. These celebrities are constantly trolled with insults and hurting words and it sometimes gets to them.
Social media users need to curb the way they use the medium because it could be the beginning or the end of their fellow human beings.
Trolls should mind the way they act online and the celebrities themselves should note that their health should be taken seriously. They should also stop the use of drugs or at least limit it as it could destroy their lives as seen in the death of the legendary Majek Fashek, and the mental breakdown of Solid Star who was captured on tape wandering around the streets talking to himself.
Lastly, there should also be an awareness of depression to educate these artistes that not all of them will reign for so long and if by chance they fall off, they should get a life beyond their celebrity status.
