False Death Reports: The Case of Liberia's 'Heaven Sent' Musician
A viral claim about a young musician's death in Liberia turned out to be a case of mistaken identity, highlighting the dangers of unverified social media reporting.
On the evening of May 14, 2025, a wave of mourning swept across Liberian social media. Multiple news outlets and blogs reported that a popular young musician known as "Heaven Sent" had died from sickle cell anemia.
Within hours, the story had garnered hundreds of reactions and shares across Facebook. Some of the posts can be found here, here, and here. The main post on Liberia’s Impact, which was the platform being referenced as the source of the claim, had over 400 reactions, 196 comments, and 34 shares as of the time of this story
But the reports were wrong — and the confusion that followed reveals how quickly misinformation can spread in the digital age.
The Confusion Over Two Musicians
The mix-up centered on two different child musicians, both of whom had recorded songs titled "Heaven Sent" during Liberia's 2023 presidential campaign season.
The first was Lil Quz, a young performer affiliated with the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), the party of then-President George Weah. His version of "Heaven Sent" was created to support Weah's re-election campaign.
The second was another child musician who recorded his own version of "Heaven" Sent"—but this one was made for President Joseph Boakai and his Unity Party, then as opposition.
When news of a young musician's death began circulating, several outlets incorrectly identified the deceased as the CDC-affiliated "Heaven Sent" performer.
How the Report Spread
The false report originated from Liberian's Impact, a local blog, and was quickly picked up by other outlets, including Vision Online TV and Bigpapa News. The original Facebook post accumulated more than 400 reactions, 196 comments, and 34 shares before the error was discovered.
Vision Online TV later removed their post, but not before the misinformation had spread widely across Liberian social media.
The Fact
The truth became clear on May 15, when the very much alive Lil Quz appeared at CDC headquarters and participated in a live television interview with BEST TV Liberia. His public appearance definitively disproved the death reports.
Meanwhile, DJ Five Star, a popular local disc jockey, conducted a Facebook Live interview with the mother of the musician who had actually died. The woman, identified as Madam Lisa, confirmed that her son — known as "Kolokwa" King"—was the young performer who had passed away, not the CDC's "Heaven Sent" musician.
The Broader Context
The incident underscores several issues common to modern media consumption. The speed at which information travels on social media platforms can outpace fact-checking efforts, leading to the rapid spread of false information. Additionally, when multiple individuals share similar stage names or song titles, the potential for confusion increases dramatically.
In Liberia, where political affiliations run deep and music often intersects with campaign messaging, the stakes of such misreporting can be particularly high. Both young musicians had gained recognition for their politically themed songs during the contentious 2023 election cycle.
Lessons in Digital Age Reporting
The "Heaven Sent" case serves as a reminder of the importance of verification in journalism, particularly in an era where social media posts can quickly be mistaken for authoritative news sources. The incident also highlights how emotional stories — particularly those involving young people — can spread rapidly before facts are fully established.
For readers navigating today's information landscape, the episode reinforces the value of seeking multiple sources and waiting for official confirmation before accepting breaking news, especially when it originates from social media platforms.
The real tragedy, of course, remains the loss of young Kolokwa King, whose death was overshadowed by the confusion surrounding his identity. While the misinformation has been corrected, his family's grief — and their need for privacy during this difficult time — deserves recognition and respect.
