Respected Nigerian producer OJB Jezreel died in the early hours of today after a long battle with kidney ailment.One of his three wives had donated a kidney for him 3 years ago to undergo a kidney transplant in India.
The Nigerian producer Babatunde Okungbowa, known professionally as OJB Jezreel, discovered
Wizkid and produced one of Africa's biggest hit ever,African Queen, for 2Face Idibia.He was aged 49.OJB death comes at a time when Nigeria have lost so many of its entertainers and personalities.Only in March we lost Nomoreloss who ironically had battled hard to keep OJB alive when he needed funding for his kidney transplant in India.I guess the two friends will be finally reunited now.
Family sources say he had been in and out of hospital since having a kidney replacement on October 21, 2013.The source said he had a relapse about two weeks ago and had to be placed on dialysis, which cost N35,000 weekly. His situation worsened on Monday leading to his death today(Tuesday 14th June).
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OJB Jezreel biography. Babatunde Okungbowa was born on the 4th of July 1966,he would have been 50 in a few weeks time.Among the artists OJB had worked with in his short lifetime are, Oxygen, Paul Play, Ruggedman, X-Appeal, Jazzman, 2face Idibia,Goldie Harvey and many others. He produced pop icon 2face Idibia’s classic debut album ‘Grass to Grace‘featuring African Queen.He is survived by three wives and eight children.
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The picture above are of his 3 wives and 8 children.
A few days ago,he had an interview with The Net.Ng and it was a spooky interview to say the least.He was asked about how he felt to be finally 50? But you don't ask that kind of question when there is still a month to go till then.Anything can happen in 24 hours less talk of a month.See excerpts from the interview...
On how he was going to celebrate his 50th birthday,read what he said:
When your health challenge rose in 2013, did you ever think you’ll live up to 50?
Well, when the health challenge came, I won’t lie to you, I was a bit worried, but after the transplant, I started seeing things differently and I started seeing possibilities of living up to 50 and even beyond.
Now that you are 50, what will change about you?
I hear most people turn 50 and say things like ‘I’ll get closer to God’, so I always wonder. Really, you don’t have to hit the age of 50 before you should get close to God, what if you don’t live up to 50?
For me, there’s really nothing that’ll change. Like I said earlier, the only thing is the fact that you can’t be found competing with anyone. You should be more of the advisory person. You should let people know that there’s a ladder to climb, that there’s more to what they see. One minute you are at the top, the next minute it’s somebody else, and a lot of people have not been able to manage such situations.
I just believe that 50 gives you an opportunity to be more constructive with your life. Some say life begins at 40, for some of us I think life actually begins at 50.
On how he was going to celebrate his 50th birthday,read what he said:
“I think the first thing I really want to do is to have a quiet moment with my family, because as you are aware from 2013 till now it’s been a rolling stone of challenges health-wise and for some reasons I’m still alive, so that day, I really don’t want too much noise and celebration. I just want it to be a day for myself, family and God.
But after that day, we can turn up and paint the town all the colours you want (laughs).”
When your health challenge rose in 2013, did you ever think you’ll live up to 50?
Well, when the health challenge came, I won’t lie to you, I was a bit worried, but after the transplant, I started seeing things differently and I started seeing possibilities of living up to 50 and even beyond.
Now that you are 50, what will change about you?
I hear most people turn 50 and say things like ‘I’ll get closer to God’, so I always wonder. Really, you don’t have to hit the age of 50 before you should get close to God, what if you don’t live up to 50?
For me, there’s really nothing that’ll change. Like I said earlier, the only thing is the fact that you can’t be found competing with anyone. You should be more of the advisory person. You should let people know that there’s a ladder to climb, that there’s more to what they see. One minute you are at the top, the next minute it’s somebody else, and a lot of people have not been able to manage such situations.
I just believe that 50 gives you an opportunity to be more constructive with your life. Some say life begins at 40, for some of us I think life actually begins at 50.
Sadly he never saw that 50th birthday.
Sadly, he never lived to see the day as death had different plans.
It was only last week or thereabouts that i saw a press briefing about his latest single,he was active up until his untimely death.Nigerians as well as Nigerian entertainers have been paying tributes to the talented singer,writer and producer.Below are some of the tributes
Sadly, he never lived to see the day as death had different plans.
It was only last week or thereabouts that i saw a press briefing about his latest single,he was active up until his untimely death.Nigerians as well as Nigerian entertainers have been paying tributes to the talented singer,writer and producer.Below are some of the tributes
RIP OJB.