Joseph Aloba, the father of late musician Ilerioluwa Aloba, also known as Mohbad, has revealed details about his son’s rapid burial after he died on September 12 at the age of 27, with the funeral taking place the next day.
Aloba, who made the revelation in a recent Instagram interview published by Temilola Sobola (@TemilolaSobola) on Tuesday, provided insight into Yoruba cultural norms, saying that the quick burial was in accordance with tradition. He highlighted that it is usual not to postpone a deceased person’s burial when both parents are still living.
Aloba noted that if Mohbad had died at a later age, the possibility of storing his body in a morgue for a later period may have been considered. However, custom dictated otherwise in this circumstance.
He also clarified that the land where his son was laid to rest belonged to the deceased and that he had given it to him to build a church. The decision to bury him quickly aligned with Yoruba customs and cultural practices.
“In Yoruba land, his corpse is not the kind to be kept when both of his parents are still alive,” Aloba explained.
“That land where Mohbad was buried is his only land, that is the only land I know him to have owned. Truly, he gave me the land to build my church because we had both agreed to build the church there, and since that’s the only land I knew him to have.”
Mohbad, a former signee of Naira Marley’s Marlian Music, left the label in February 2022.
Mohbad’s management arranged a candlelight parade and memorial night for the late musician on Thursday. Furthermore, the Lagos State Governor invited the Department of Security Services to take part in the inquiry into Mohbad’s death.
