Saida, the mother of late Afrobeat singer Afeez Adeshina, popularly known as Destiny Boy, has opened up on the circumstances surrounding her son’s death, revealing that he had battled a long-term mysterious illness that frequently caused seizures.
Destiny Boy, who shot to fame in 2019 after releasing a Fuji-style cover of Davido’s hit song If, died on Sunday, January 18, 2025, after struggling with the ailment, locally referred to as “Ogu oru.”
In a video that went viral on Monday, Saida explained that the singer’s condition had been closely managed by the family, traditional healers and clerics, but was deliberately kept away from the public due to his status as a rising star.
“Destiny went to rest. When he gave birth to his child, about four days after the naming, we went to Oba Edu Ifayomi, who initiated him traditionally. The man likes him as his son, so that’s why he told us to come and collect a ram for the baby’s naming ceremony. It was then that the sickness caught up with him, causing him to fall,” she recounted.
She said he was immediately rushed to the hospital, adding that Oba Edu Ifayomi continued to support his treatment financially even after he was transferred to two other hospitals.
“It was there that we took him to the hospital. Oba Edu said we should ensure he’s properly treated and that he will take care of himself. He kept sending us money even when he was transferred to about two other hospitals. When we saw the trend of the sickness, we told him that we should go traditional, and he said we should bring him to his place. I was the one he even gave the soap to bathe him,” Saida said.
According to her, the singer responded positively after the traditional intervention and returned home in stable condition.
“We returned, and he was fine. The sickness he battled with was ‘Ogu oru,’ which caused him to have seizures. The sickness had almost run him mad. We were the ones who always ensured that he didn’t run out in the process of calming him,” she added.
Saida also dismissed rumours circulating on social media that linked her son’s death to money rituals, describing such claims as baseless and insensitive.
“Destiny Boy was not involved in money rituals. Those spreading such misinformation are just seeking attention from his death,” she stated.
Recalling his final days, she said the late singer remained active and hopeful despite his condition.
“On Saturday, he still bought things for people, greeted his fans, and said he had a show on Sunday. Even then, the seizure caught him again,” she said.
She further revealed that the family had sought both medical and traditional remedies under the guidance of Oba Edu Ifayomi, who was closely involved in Destiny Boy’s care.
The singer had only recently welcomed his first child in November 2024, a development his mother said brought him great joy.
Meanwhile, the Ogun State Police Command has confirmed that investigations into Destiny Boy’s death are ongoing, assuring that further updates will be provided as more details emerge.
Destiny Boy’s sudden death has continued to draw an outpouring of grief from fans and colleagues in the Nigerian music industry, who have taken to social media to pay tribute to the young artiste and his short but impactful career.
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