Death is an inevitable and horrifying part of life. The loss of a close friend or family member always floods us with emotions, the same way we feel when we lose some of our favorite celebrities.
Over the years, the Nigerian entertainment industry has witnessed the loss of some of its artists, most of whom died while at the peak of their careers. Here, we remember some of the notable musicians whose deaths came rather too early.
Remembering Fallen Stars
Unarguably, the Nigerian music industry is West Africa's biggest depot of young/old talented, creative, successful and wealthy musical artists that have taken the art of singing music beyond the shores of West Africa and Africa as a whole.
While compiling this list, it's important to acknowledge that there are signs that Nigerians are living longer these days than in the past. If life expectancy figures are used, that is evident.
In 1960, life expectancy in Nigeria was 36.73 years; in 1970, it was 40.79; in 1980, it was 44.98; in 1990, it was 45.92; in 2000, it was 46.38; in 2010, it was 50.64; in 2020, it was 54.81; in 2024, it was 56.05.
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Even if one does not use life expectancy data but chooses to compare the ages of prominent people in Nigeria with their counterparts who died in the last 20 to 40 years, one can see the huge difference. For example, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe lived the longest among his contemporaries, and it seemed as if he was Methuselah. But he was only 91 when he passed on in 1996. Some years before that, he was no longer attending events. In comparison, Chief Edwin Clark is 97 years today and still grants interviews and addresses press conferences. Pa Ayo Adebanjo is 96 and still grants interviews and speaks at events. Chief Emeka Anyaoku is 91, Prof. Wole Soyinka is 90; General Yakubu Gowon will be 90 in October. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo is 87 - as well as diabetic. Yet they are still moving around unaided.
It is, therefore, hard to understand why our musicians (as well as other entertainers) don’t seem to be living as long as other members of Nigerian society. We need to look into what is taking away our musicians (and other entertainers) early.
The key causes of death these days are heart attack, stroke, diabetes, kidney failure, and cancer. Once rare, these diseases claim the lives of our people in droves regularly these days. It is no longer strange to spend the evening with someone but hear the next morning that the person did not wake up from sleep. It is also not strange to hear that someone just collapsed at a function or in the office.
Doctors say that the number 1 culprit is our lifestyle. This lifestyle covers what we put into our mouths, how we exercise our body, how we rest, etc. Our food has become too artificial. Fruits and vegetables, which are great for healthy living, are usually relegated to the background in Nigeria, while unhealthy sweet-tasting delicacies and alcoholic beverages are preferred. There are cars and motorbikes everywhere that make us hardly walk. Insecurity is also a factor that makes many not to go for a walk. The economy has tightened and people worry a lot about meeting up with their responsibilities as adults, parents and community leaders.
Ironically, even though people are living longer and looking healthier these days due to improved access to healthcare and healthier lifestyles, our musicians, actors, comedians, and other entertainers are still not living as long as expected.
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Here are some of the talented Nigerian musicians who passed away too soon:
- Dagrin
- Goldie
- Kefee
- MC Loph
- Eric Arubayi
Oladapo Olaitan Olaonipekun, popularly known as Dagrin, was one of the most prominent entertainers in Nigeria. He rose to stardom after the release of his hit single "Pon Pon Pon". His street-pop music was loved by many. Dagrin died on April 22, 2010, following a car accident. He was 25 years old.
Susan Oluwabimpe Harvey, known as Goldie, was a Nigerian singer and Big Brother Africa star. She passed away on February 14, 2013, shortly after returning from the Grammy Awards. The cause of death was hypertensive heart disease, which triggered an intracerebral hemorrhage. She was 31 years old.
Kefee Obareki Don-Momoh, a famous Nigerian gospel singer, passed away on June 13, 2014, after being in a coma for weeks in an American hospital. She collapsed on a 14-hour flight to Chicago for an event. She was 34 years old.
Obiajulu Nwaozor, known as MC Loph, was a Nigerian rapper famous for his indigenous Igbo sound. He died in an auto crash along the Benin-Ore road on September 14, 2011. He was on his way to his traditional marriage.
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Eric Arubayi was a gospel singer who gained recognition after appearing on West African Idols in 2007. He died in February 2017 due to complications from an expired malaria drug, which affected his liver. He was 34 years old.
Other notable deaths in the Nigerian music industry include:
- Nollywood filmmaker, Chico Ejiro, who passed away on Christmas Day - December 25th, 2020 from a seizure.
- Cool FM radio host, Dan Foster, who died on June 17 after allegedly contracting COVID-19.
- Nollywood actor Ogun Majek, who died on June 25th 2020 after battling an unnamed ailment for many months.
- Nollywood actress Bose Adewoyin, who died on June 23rd 2020 and was buried on the same day of her death.
- Former goalkeeper of Nigeria’s Flying Eagles, John Felagha, who died on August 30th 2020 at the very young age of just 26.
- Renowned Nigerian poet, Prof. Tunbosun Shadare, an OAP with Rhythm FM Lagos, who died on September 10, 2020 after a brief illness.
- Politician and one-time governor of Kaduna state, Balarabe Musa, who died on November 11.
These are just a few of the many talented Nigerian musicians who have left us too soon. Their contributions to the music industry will always be remembered.
In comparison, Western musicians, actors, and other entertainers live long. For example, with the exception of Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston, who died of man-made causes, most others died in their 80s or 90s. In recent years, Harry Belafonte died at 96; Tina Turner died at 83; Tony Bennet died at 96, etc. The health care system in the Western world is far better than what obtains in Nigeria, but other Nigerians that are not in the entertainment industry are also living long these days.
It is difficult to know how to avoid cancer, but most Nigerian musicians, actors and entertainers are not dying as a result of cancer. It is not the will of God that we have a heart attack or stroke or diabetes, neither is it our enemies that cause these deaths.
For actors and some other entertainers who don’t have much money at their disposal, there may be a challenge of giving themselves adequate healthcare.
We need to remember and celebrate the lives and legacies of these artists, and perhaps use their stories to promote healthier lifestyles and better healthcare within the entertainment industry.
Here's a table summarizing the life expectancy in Nigeria over the years:
| Year | Life Expectancy |
|---|---|
| 1960 | 36.73 |
| 1970 | 40.79 |
| 1980 | 44.98 |
| 1990 | 45.92 |
| 2000 | 46.38 |
| 2010 | 50.64 |
| 2020 | 54.81 |
| 2024 | 56.05 |
