The mysterious death of popular Nigerian Afro Fuji singer, Destiny Boy, has taken a new turn as fresh details emerge about his spiritual consultant and his family's alleged awareness of the relationship.
BBC Yoruba Identifies the Spiritualist
In a bid to clarify the rumours, BBC News Yoruba conducted an investigation and identified the traditional priest, known as a Babalawo, who worked with the late artist. He is Omowe Ifayomi Oba Edu Jogbodo Orunmila, also known as Oba Awurela Agbaye Obatala.
The investigation revealed that this spiritualist resides in Arigbajo town, near Ifo in Ogun State. Beyond his connection to Destiny Boy, whose real name was Afeez Adeshina, the BBC reported that Oba Edu also provides services for many other Fuji music artists who frequently visit him.
Failed Attempts to Reach the Babalawo
On Monday, January 19, a day after the news of the 22-year-old singer's death broke, BBC News Yoruba attempted to contact Oba Edu directly. A person who answered the call identified himself as the priest's Personal Assistant and promised to hand over the phone. However, no one came on the line to speak.
Subsequent calls and a voice note sent to the line went unanswered as of the time the BBC report was published. This lack of response has further fueled public curiosity and speculation surrounding the circumstances of the singer's passing.
Close Source Implicates Parents
A source close to Destiny Boy's mother, Saida Adeshina, who spoke to the BBC on condition of anonymity, made startling claims about the parents' involvement. The source alleged that Destiny Boy's parents were aware of his visits to the Babalawo, Oba Edu, for spiritual purposes.
"I am surprised that his father can cry now that Oba Edu did Destiny Boy bad. They have accompanied him to the Babalawo about three times that I know about," the source told BBC News Yoruba. The source added that the parents were often present when the singer received items from the spiritualist, some of which were shared online.
Family's Public Defence
These claims contrast with the public stance taken by Destiny Boy's mother. Earlier, Saida Adeshina had warned Nigerians against spreading unverified stories, vehemently denying any involvement of her son in rituals. She stated that anyone using his name for relevance would "suffer the same fate" as him.
Furthermore, the singer's elder sister has also addressed the controversy. She reacted to a viral voice note their mother sent to Destiny Boy before his death, explaining the context behind the harsh words used and dismissing the swirling rumours about his death.
The death of Destiny Boy, which occurred on Sunday, January 18, continues to be a major topic of discussion online. The case has now drawn the attention of the Nigerian police, who are expected to investigate the various allegations and uncover the truth behind the young singer's untimely demise.
