Almost two weeks ago, tech influencer and co-founder of PaidHR, Seye Dele who has been a fan of Zinoleesky tweeting over twenty times about the artist before now, made a post on X (formerly Twitter) recently acknowledging the quality of Marlians Music frontman Zinoleesky’s discography. Seye also mentioned that he had forgiven Zinoleesky because enough time had passed. Time, they say, heals all wounds, and Seye, like a quiet minority, was ready to give Zinoleesky another chance and effectively ‘uncancel’ the talented pop star.
Unsurprisingly, the reactions to Seye’s post were not favourable, and the much-respected personality in the Nigerian tech space was subject to intense dragging. He eventually deleted the post due to heavy backlash.
It is important to note that Zinoleesky was one of the darlings of Nigeria’s music scene two years ago. With ease, he delivered chart-topping, party-starting singles that dominated the airwaves. His Midas touch revived Lil Kesh’s flagging career. A-list superstars like Tiwa Savage and Adekunle Gold demanded verses from him. He literally single-handedly propelled Niphkeys to mainstream popularity. Most importantly, Zinoleesky was the go-to guy for aspiring street-hop artists. His accessibility made him the guy aspiring talents like Feranbanks, Mulla Rae, Meeza, and others sought for potentially career-altering verses.
Now, the mention of Zinoleesky in any sort of positive light triggers visceral reactions and invites intense online ridicule from listeners and consumers who remain steadfast in their unwillingness to exonerate him of any blame for his role—despite him not being directly involved—in the tragic loss of Mohbad, a gifted street poet and former labelmate.
What is Cancel Culture?
Cancel culture is the practice of publicly calling out, shaming, and boycotting individuals, organizations, or entities for perceived wrongdoing, often on social media. Cancel culture often involves a collective effort to hold people or organizations accountable for their actions, words, or ideologies deemed unacceptable. This can lead to many consequences, as evident in Zinoleesky’s situation, where he faces:
- Loss of reputation, credibility, and public trust.
- Boycotts and financial losses.
- Social exclusion and ostracism.
Zinoleesky has effectively been cancelled by the mainstream, and every attempt he has made to stage a comeback has been a woeful failure. In 2024, he released eight singles, including a high-profile collaboration with Bnxn. Every single one of those records has been ignored by a large section of the mainstream, receiving limited media and DSP support. Fans who have attempted to plead his case have been violently shut down.
While some may argue that Zino’s recent releases pale in comparison to the quality of the records that defined his mainstream run, this writer believes an ‘uncancelled’ Zino would have been able to pull off hits with records like Sunny Ade and Abanikanda.Â
The question then remains: Is there a way back for Zinoleesky?
Cancel culture has proven to be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it has served as a tool for holding individuals accountable for their actions. On the other hand, it often leaves the “cancelled” with little to no chance of redemption. However, there have been notable exceptions—individuals who managed to navigate the storm of cancel culture and reclaim their reputation. These cases show that while cancel culture can be unforgiving, it also presents an opportunity for change when approached with sincerity and accountability. Two qualities Zinoleesky has consistently failed to display since the passing of Mohbad.
His poor and immature handling of the situation since then has contributed to the resentment from the audience towards him—one that time has yet to erase. ‘Silence is being complicit, lack of sympathy is being complicit,’ music exec Gracey Mae tells me in a conversation we had over social media in January 2024 on the issue.
Zinoleesky’s unwavering loyalty to his label and its head honcho, as well as his refusal to publicly address the issues, has alienated him from fans, including some of his biggest supporters. His silence has worsened the situation, and every day he remains silent deepens the distrust.
Can Zinoleesky Find Redemption?
For Zino, the road to redemption is steep and rocky. However, this writer believes there is a distinct possibility if he does the right things. It is also important to acknowledge that the tragic passing of Mohbad, according to reports, was caused by a reaction to a wrongly administered injection. It’s important to note that Zinoleesky played no role in his untimely death.
While it’s natural to feel emotional pain and sadness following Mohbad’s passing, we need to separate objective facts from emotions. Zino’s only wrongdoing is his loyalty to those who bullied Mohbad during his lifetime.
What he has to do
Zinoleesky needs to address the situation publicly. An in-depth interview discussing his relationship with Mohbad, regrets, and lessons learned would be the best way to go. He also has to engage with what is left of his fanbase openly. The audience tends to gravitate toward genuine efforts rather than calculated PR stunts. Strategic collaborations could also ease him back into the mainstream. Collaborating with artists or producers who have goodwill with the audience could help. Most importantly, he needs to completely disassociate from his label. The label tormented Mohbad and drained him of his peace. His association and loyalty to the label continue to be a pain point in the hearts of those who still have some goodwill towards him.
A successful Zinoleesky comeback is completely dependent on his willingness to be accountable and honest with his fans and the audience. That’s the only way he can repair his broken relationship with them as well as regain public trust. While redemption may seem like a long shot at this point, it is not off the table. Zino could potentially find his way back into the hearts of listeners if he is willing to do what it takes.
Most importantly, the music must be significantly better than what it currently is. The only reason a small chunk of fans have some goodwill toward him is because of the quality of the music he delivered during his first run. To be completely sincere, the songs he has released this year have all been horrible. If he can regain the public’s attention, his future releases must showcase a significant quality improvement to retain listeners.
Zinoleesky still has the talent to captivate the Nigerian music scene as he once did. Whether he’ll be given another chance to redeem himself remains to be seen. For now, the ball is firmly in his court. The ball has always been in his court.
