Mohbad: Lessons from Parental Failure and Social Pressure
Out of the abundance of the mind, the mouth speaks. Listening to one of “OMO ÌLÉRÍ’s” songs this morning while reflecting on his life trajectory, I perceived the parent-son mentorship gap. I emphasised on the name ÌLÉRÍ because its a Yoruba man with pregnant meanings. Ileri could be “God’s covenanted child/child of promise” particularly being the first child of a Pastor/Spiritual Head of God’s Household of Faith. All covenanted children of God are unique and exceptional. When they’re born or die is always world-quaking. Their life is entirely inspirational, motivational and instructive because they are Divine and Special breed. The Holy Book of the Christians (Bible) mentioned this in Romans 8 v 7
“In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.”
They are supposed to uphold the tenets of the covenant. They have a specific purpose or mission within God’s plan. They are chosen to be a blessing to all nations and to carry the message of God to the world.
In his hit track titled “Sorry,” where he apologised to “His Father” for failing him as a covenanted child, I opine that mohbad was a victim of social pressure, broken home and maternal absence. Even though he appreciated his father’s “best efforts” on his life, he wasn’t unmindful to mention that his mother was absent when it mattered the most in his formative years, leaving the Stepmother to take the driver’s seat, however, this same mother unshamefully granted interview that she’s not dead. Isn’t it a disgrace that her absence was that obvious in mohbad’s life that the public could declare her dead, while she is alive?
An alternative transcription of the song, “I’m Sorry”, is below.
First verse:
This kind life is wearing me out
Daddy’s income is meager
I haven’t seen Mom in ten years
Stepmother is indifferent
The landlord is relentless
My brothers are starving
Dad scraped together money for my education, but I rarely attended classes; Dad, I apologize!
THIS IS SOCIAL PRESSURE!
In the second verse of the lyrics, he confirmed and admitted that he bowed to these pressures, probably being the first born.
I’ve ventured into internet fraud (Yahoo)
I’ve resorted to taking banku (Drugs)
Pastor’s Son is now “part of the under/world”
The third part of the lyrics was a solicited prayer and encouragement because he had no other option/choice than that:
Mom keeps praying
Dad keeps praying for me
For things to get better for me
I dropped out of school
The only thing I can do
Is choose music
Like the game of cheese, the final part of the song depicts a clear confusion about what life holds ahead of him and steps to take. The struggles in his music career, the strength to back out from what he had ventured in, the future. This is coming having met disappointment from all quarters, even the Police that he reported Marlians to:
This kind life is wearing me out
It’s all jumbled up in my head
The path ahead is unclear
I’m confused as well
I don’t know
From experiences, this particular state of mind is a dangerous place, one of illusions and depression. It’s a state where every wrong appears right, even when it is certain that the thoughts were leading astray. Some of us had got to this stage before. It’s all God’s Grace, prayers of our parents, spouses, and loved ones, the place of Mentors, and the moral upbringing that sustains one.
Unfortuntely, Naira marley was Ileri’s mentor, parent and guide. He was his all. Leaving him was a huge vacuum. Not even his father. No wonder he had to apologise, publicly.
I hope this unfortunate event would teach the “Mothers-of-Yahooboys-Association” a lesson.
