Goldie: And The Music Stopped...Controversy Continues...

The death of Nigeria's pop-diva Oluwabimpe Susan Filani Harvey, known to the wide audience as 'Goldie', shocked the entertainment world. The young woman succumbed to death in another case of a burning candle that is snuffed out without a gale.

It all ended too soon for Goldie. To her very end she had the capacity to shock people out of their wits. Her exit from the earth was no less astonishing: no long drawn bout of illness, no ailment whatsoever. One moment she was there, so full of life and in a jiffy she deleted her physical presence from our collective psyche.

Many Nigerians were still on an overdose of love-induced activities on Valentine Day when they were jolted back into reality with the news of the demise of Goldie whose entertainment career was only beginning to roll into the speedy lane.

Bad News
For many Nigerians, as well as her increasing fans across Africa, it was a piece of bad news they did not want to believe. Not minding scores of messages from close associates, it sounded all so surreal, the credibility of the tale-bearers notwithstanding. Channel O VJ, Denrele Edun who has made a couple of appearances in Goldie's recent videos including 'Skibobo' featuring AY is definitely a trusted source when it comes to issues relating to Goldie. He did not mince words with his post on social media. He claimed to be the last person who saw her alive. According to Denrele, Goldie arrived from the US where she was in the company with her record label, Kennis Music boss, Kenny Ogungbe, at the 2013 Grammys Awards.
"She was full of life upon her return, but suddenly, something went tragically wrong."
Perhaps, only Denrele knows the source of this tragedy.

It was only natural for Denrele to be Goldie's pal. Apart from being joined together by their unconventional behaviour, both entertainers had recently started a television reality programme, 'True Friendship'. It was Denrele who revealed that Goldie died in his arms at Reddington Hospital in Victoria Island, Lagos. To absolve itself of any complicity, the hospital issued a statement claiming that the singer was dead by the time she was brought there from her Parkview, Ikoyi residence. Goldie’s management would later announce on her Facebook page and on her twitter handle: "It is with heavy heart that I have to inform you all that Goldie passed this night shortly after arriving Lagos from LA. May her soul rest in the eternal peace of the Lord – Amin!"

Goldie Was to Feature on MTV Base Celeb Segment Goldie was scheduled to feature on the Celeb Surprise Segment, of MTV Base's Big Friday Show at the weekend. About this time last year, Goldie dropped 'Say My Name', a love song for the Valentine season. Last year too, she released her second studio album, 'Gold Reloaded' on Kennis Music label to which she was signed on in 2010. She had previously released her debut titled, 'Gold' on the same platform.

Even as a counter message purportedly from her manager, Teejay tried to give a lie to the death story, insisting she was alive and well, Kenny Ogungbe sealed the hope of anyone hoping against hope that the Goldie death story might just turn out a hoax. Kennis Music's official statement confirmed her demise.
"On behalf of Kennis Music, I'm sad to officially confirm the shocking and untimely passage of Nigeria's pop star, Goldie Harvey. With a deep sense of loss, we announce the shocking death of our darling music star, Goldie Harvey. Goldie, 31, died on Thursday after she complained of a severe headache at her Parkview, Ikoyi, Lagos residence shortly after her arrival from the United States where she went to witness the Grammy Award. She was rushed to her official hospital, Reddington, Victoria Island, Lagos, where doctors pronounced her dead on arrival.

"We consider this period a gloomy moment for us and the entire Nigerian music industry in view of the circumstance in which Goldie passed away, the abundance of talent she has exhibited in her short but eventful music career and the various opportunities her trip to the United States of America would have availed her. She is survived by her father, step-mother, brothers and sisters. We deeply sympathise with her family and fans all over the world and very grateful to all and sundry, especially, the vibrant Nigerian media for their concern and prompt reportage. We shall keep everybody informed as events unfold as we are still devastated by the sudden loss."

Kenny's business partner and friend Dayo Adeneye has been reported to give the cause of death as pneumonia, while earlier posts suggested she succumbed to migraine. A post-mortem is yet to be carried out, but her body has already been deposited at the Ikeja General Hospital. There is also the speculation that she might have died from an overdose of hallucinatory drugs. But all of these are in the realm of conjecture as a post-mortem has not been performed on her body.