Inside OJB Jezreel’s new life (READ)

OJB and first wife Mabel aka Mama J. Photo: Facebook

Since returning from his surgery in India, producer Babatunde Augustine Okungbowa, popularly known as OJB Jezreel has settled back to to normal life.

The producer returned to Nigeria with his wife Mabel ‘Mama J’ Okungbowa (who donated the life-saving kidney) on November 30, 2013 after spending three months at the Colombia Asian Hospital in India where he had gone for a transplant.

For months, family, friends and fans prayed and waited in anticipation for the successful transplant operation and safe return of the veteran music producer. ‘It certainly feels good to be back and to still be alive’, OJB told our correspondent who visited him at his newly refurbished 4, Gbaja Street, Surulere residence.

‘Now that the surgery has been successful, the next mission is trying to maintain the kidney so that it doesn’t relapse. The doctors prescribe that I chill and relax for six months, but I can’t afford to do that when I have a family to take care of. I have to get back to work.

‘I think the help anyone can render me at this time is to give me jobs to do. I don’t want to just sit down and be idle. This production thing has always been my passion and so I need to get back to it.’

Although OJB was able to raise more than he requested for the surgery, he says that what’s left will be used in acquiring the drugs that he will need to maintain the kidney. ‘These drugs are very expensive and I have to take them for a lifetime’.

But while the father-of-eight was away in India, his house was undergoing a total reconstruction. ‘A fan paid for the renovation of this house’, OJB said. ‘He also bought me the new car’, referring to the white Land Rover Jeep parked inside the compound.

‘I’m grateful that I have a home because if all of this had come crashing about 2-3years ago, it would have been very unfortunate. It took me about 7years to finish paying the mortgage on this house. The final payment was made early last year before my ailment became very critical.’

OJB’s illness case caused a media frenzy as friends, family and fans were engaged in several efforts to raise a target N16m for his kidney transplant operation. Over N20m was raised from donations from fans, celebrities and government officials.

The ailment not only brought him publicity, but has become a life-changing experience for the producer. ‘One lesson I have learnt in all of this is that it is good to be good and to have an impact in other peoples lives. That, I think, is the reason why people gathered around to help me’.

Now OJB hopes to capture his experience in a book. ‘I’m working on a book which I have titled ‘The Celebrated Beggar’. It will capture of my experience as a producer, musician up to the travails of my kidney ailment. I want to talk about how one can go off the spotlight in just a single moment and a whole lot of things’.

What many may not know about the award-winning producer is that he is from a wealthy family. His pursuit of music, he said had put a bit of strain between him and his family. ‘I dropped my Civil Engineering certificate to chase music and my parents backed away from me hoping that that would make me change my mind, but it did not. It made me go further and further. I had gotten used to doing things by myself and that was why I didn’t reach out to my family for help’.

Music is not yet lost for the 47-year-old ‘African Queen’ producer who is now back on production and shot a new video last week (Thursday, January 9, 2014) for a soon to be released single. ‘I hope to put out a few singles this year so as to gain momentum, enough to prepare the fans for an album that will drop before the end of the year’.

Delta State-born OJB also has his eyes on getting involved in charitable courses. ‘I want to start a foundation which will afford me the avenue to reach out to people who also need help. I do not have the money to help them, but I know I can be instrumental in the process of helping them raise money and getting the required help’.