Dark Powers In The Music Industry: Which Nigerian Musician Will Clear The Air The Way Ugandan Clever J Did? -By Isaac Asabor

Once upon a time In Uganda, there was the rumour that musicians used witchcraft to turn boring songs into hits. In fact, some Ugandans thought that the success of their musicians was linked to cruel killings, devil worship and black magic.

Not only did the suspicion became deep-rooted by each passing day, a few of them wondered why Ugandan musicians were more popular than others in the East African sub-continent. The rumour has over the years being thick so much that it could literarily be sliced with a knife. The reason why the rumour persists cannot be farfetched as there is a nasty story of child ritual murders, witchcraft and Illuminati that just does not go away.

Not a few of the rumour mongers believe that most Ugandan hits songs that would make anyone wiggle his or her waist like crazy when DJs play them were made possible through dark powers. However, as it has turned out, it is very likely that they were boring songs and it is witchcraft that turned them into hits!

Till now, the rumour mill still believes that child sacrifice and use of witchcraft are similar to the albino murders that bedeviled Tanzania, and which is similarly disturbing Malawi. Some Ugandans think that the success of their musicians is linked to these cruel killings, devil worship and black magic.

In fact, the rumour mill cannot be blamed or faulted as a couple of cases of musicians sacrificing their siblings and consulting witchdoctors to boost their music career have been reported. It is even in public domain that in Tanzania, for instance, singer Diamond’s success was attributed to a witchdoctor’s voodoo, claims that he, of course, denied.

As gathered, there was a case in Uganda about the beheading of a six-year-old boy in an alleged bid to help promote a musicians’ dwindling career.

It is expedient to recall that the killer who severed the boy’s head, shockingly was the killer’s elder brother, who confessed that he was taking the head to a superstitious music promoter who required it to make him, as celebs like putting it, “blow up” in the music industry. But the question that instantly came to mind is, “If a musician is going to make bad music, is there any amount of witchcraft that can help him to turn it into a hit? The foregoing is a question many cannot answer, except those that have superstitious mindsets, and are into the evil practices.

Let me state, at least for legal reasons, that I hope the killer is lying and the head was not asked for by the music promoter to turn his boring songs into hits. But interestingly, some locals in Uganda, as gathered through Google Search Engine strongly believe the killer. Why else would anyone behead his or her own sibling, knowing he or she will never see him again after the rest of the body is buried, ever?

Unarguably to clear the air as the rumour that was no doubt eroding the image of Ugandan music industry became deep-rooted by each passing day, Gerald Muwonge, also known as Clever J, who is reputed to be a once-famous musician in Uganda, revealed that during his heydays, he sought dark powers to unleash his hits, and added that his downfall came when he failed to meet the demands of a witch doctor.

The performer continued by saying that his failure to comply with a witch doctor’s demands was his undoing, and claimed that a sacrifice was requested of him. He confessed, “I was told to offer two bulls for my brand to stay on top.”

He explained that the ‘blessings and favor’ he was getting started dwindling and songs started dropping in the music charts. The singer opened up about this as he is making a comeback.

Against the foregoing backdrop, it is expedient to opine that the atmosphere of suspicion and rumour that prevails in Ugandan music industry is not different from that of Nigeria as not a few people have been peddling rumours since the death of Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, known professionally as MohBad, a Nigerian rapper, singer, and songwriter from Lagos who died on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, in a controversial manner.

For instance, popular writer and social media influencer, Solomon Buchi, has asserted that most influential Nigerian musicians are cultists. Buchi made the claim following the raging controversies surrounding the death of Mohbad, who was formerly signed to Marlian Records.

It is no more news that Naira Marely, the owner of Marlian Records, and his associate, Sam Larry, has since Mohbad’s death came under heavy fire on social media after a series of documents and videos of the duo subjecting the late singer to relentless bullying for leaving Marlian Records surfaced on the internet.

Reacting to the video and all the recent happenings in a series of posts on his Instagram page, Solomon Buchi said: “I’ve been under the pages of books researching about Mohbad, his music boss, Naira Marley, and other parties that were involved in his life until his unfortunate demise. This has reinforced my belief that the Nigerian music industry is a cesspool of cultism, gangsterism, diabolical politics, and abysmal moral values.

“I listened to very few of his songs and noticed the pain in his voice, the sonorous and sober tone, and his poignant lyrics that often expressed the difficulty of life. His music mirrored his deepest struggles and his hope to overcome them. It got me thinking about the rot, evil, and darkness that exist in the realm of entertainment.

“Almost nothing to be exemplary of Naira Marley, Mohbad’s boss, who rose to fame by subliminally endorsing fraud and other negative vices. Now, he’s roped into this situation with strong and believable allegations of Mohbad’s death on him. And most of our youngsters listened to him and praised him until just before Mohbad’s death.

“Generally, the Nigerian music industry is a game of dirty power, gang rivalry, and shady deals. Most popular Nigerian musicians are cultists. Through their music, dressing, videos, lingo, and fraternal phrases, they are easy to identify. And what do they do? Of course, they don’t kill mosquitoes or keep peace, it’s a cycle of chaos.

In a similar vein, the Famous On Air Personality (OAP), Chinedu Ani Emmanuel, popularly known as Nedu Wazobia, has stated that the Nigerian music industry is very dark. Nedu spoke while reacting to the sudden death of Mohbad. Speaking in a video that is currently trending on the social media, Nedu shared his thoughts on the Nigerian music industry, he said,” This music industry is very very dark. I have been in the industry for over 13 years. Everybody wants to become music artists, they want to be famous and rich, but fame in the industry doesn’t go beyond two years.

“Although there are some artistes that have special grace to reign up to 20 years. Those ones are called legends.

“It’s when you are popular that people will come around you and be celebrating you. But you see the one wey nobody go ever forget na RIP, rest in peace, including those who forgot to post your pictures on your birthday will never forget to post it for RIP. But las las for this live don’t do things for self appraisers, do them because you find fulfilment in doing it (sic).

“Now see our Wonderful brother Mohbad. Did you know that the EP he dropped and nobody downloaded, but after his death the song has become top three on Naija Apple Play. May God rest his soul.”

Given the rumour making the round that dark powers prevail in the music industry, it is surprising that no Nigerian musician has come out to clear the air the way Ugandan Clever J did.