Nigerian singer and producer, OJB Jezreel (real name Babatunde Okungbowa) passed away this morning, June 14, 2016, following a relapse of the acute kidney failure that he was diagnosed with about three years ago. Prior to his death, the musician was reportedly on daily dialysis for two weeks after which his condition became even more critical. OJB would have been 50 years old next month.

In an interview with The Net, OJB talked about proposed plans for his big birthday and what turning 50 meant to him, his experience growing up as a multi-ethnic Nigerian, his family and journey in the Nigerian music industry, amongst other topics. Sadly, the interview turned out to be the Nigerian pop culture icon’s last, and it was granted from a ‘sickbed’ in his Surulere home.

The travails of OJB which have eventually led to his death were exacerbated in 2013 when both his kidneys stopped working after years of malfunctioning. Shortly after, the musician was in need of a N16 million kidney transplant which saw a public fundraising campaign started in his name. A number of Nigerians, both prominent and obscure, contributed in different ways to help the ailing musician.

Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, finally took over the responsibility of the campaign and in August 2013 and OJB was flown to India for his transplant. After the surgery, and in what now unfortunately seems like a temporary period of respite, the singer held a thanksgiving service and appeared to be back on his feet with renewed plans for the future.

His successful transplant campaign was spearheaded and managed by fellow music artiste Nomoreloss whom the Nigerian music industry also recently lost to a brief illness in March. His first wife Mabel “Mama J” Okungbowa donated one of her kidneys to him.

OJB Jezreel was one of Nigeria’s most influential music artistes who not only helped to shape the country’s contemporary music industry, but also several prominent music acts today.