The mother of the late Yoruba vlogger and businessman, Oluwagbenga Afobaje Korede, has marked a heartbreaking milestone: her son's first birthday since his tragic passing. January 1, 2026, a date that was once a celebration of life, was instead filled with profound sorrow for Iye Afobaje.
A Mother's Heartbreaking Tribute on Social Media
In a series of emotional posts on her TikTok page, Iye Afobaje shared the depth of her pain. She posted a tearful photo of herself, visually capturing the anguish of facing a new year and a birthday without her beloved son. The grieving mother expressed how the day, which used to be filled with joy, prayer, and family gatherings, now leaves her feeling isolated and shattered.
She wrote in a poignant message: "This is so hard. How did I get here? I smile but I want to cry. I speak, but I want to be quiet. I pretend to be happy but I'm not. Your death has broken my heart." She pleaded for divine comfort, stating, "God ease my pain o Lord."
Remembering a "Beautiful Soul"
In another tribute accompanied by a photo of the late vlogger, Iye Afobaje poured out her heart, revealing the ongoing struggle with her grief. She described her son as a "beautiful soul" who never wanted to see anyone cry and spoke of the unbreakable bond they shared.
Her words painted a picture of enduring love and loss: "Happy birthday to you my son. Every January 1st we celebrated and prayed together. Now I'm alone. My heart is shattered... ever since you left me my mood has been up and down, but one thing that keeps me strong everyday is knowing that you were such a beautiful soul." She expressed a mother's ultimate regret, noting she would have done anything to save him, but it was beyond her control.
Outpouring of Support from Fans and Followers
The raw and vulnerable posts quickly drew an avalanche of support from fans, friends, and well-wishers. The comment section on her TikTok became a space for collective mourning and comfort.
Many left messages for the late Afobaje and words of strength for his mother. User ꧁༆♧Mojisola????♧༆꧂ wrote: "Happy posthumous birthday Afobaje. May you rest in the beauty and peace of the Lord’s presence." Another user, Fúnmitọ́♉️?伊曼纽尔, added: "Happy heavenly birthday. We miss you more than words can say."
Followers also directly consoled Iye Afobaje. User Mumsymanny offered prayers: "Abiamo tooto, it is only God that can ease your pain Ma... we are with you in prayers." The messages underscored the impact the vlogger had on his community and the shared sorrow over his absence.
The tragedy dates back to August 3, 2024, when Afobaje collapsed suddenly while playing football at the Ikeja Cement field in Lagos. He was pronounced dead shortly after. His death sent shockwaves through his online community and was particularly devastating as he was the only child of a single mother. He was laid to rest amid an outpouring of grief from family, fans, and fellow content creators.
As the new year begins, Iye Afobaje's tributes serve as a stark reminder of the personal grief behind public loss, and the enduring love between a mother and her son.
