By Edwin Igbokwe
( with additional reports by Charles Okogene)
It is exactly 13 years, today, June 30 2024 that the acclaimed Lady of Songs, Christy Essien-Igbokwe, MFR, passed on. How time flies!
She died on June 30, 2011, after a brief illness at age 50 in accordance to God’s revelation to her even when she was very young.
Christy made great impacts in entertainment (music and movie) industry not only in Nigeria, Africa, but also in America, Europe and Asian countries where she won so many laurels. She was the mover in the formation of Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria, (PMAN) after a new of her musical tour of Seoul, South Korean where she was given the Lady of Songs nickname; and She turned out to be the only female musician to ever lead that association as b President after more than two times trial.
She was a prophetess of the most high God. She, as well, was a philanthropist of note. Her legacy will for ever live!
She was married to Chief Edwin Igbokwe who was the pioneer General Manager/Executive Director of PUNCH Newspapers. They both had four boys in the marriage.
Essien-Igbokwe was a star of the defunct Masquerade later (New Masquerade) that paraded the likes of Jegede, Zebrudaya, Claraus, James Irohin (Gringory) from NTA Aba. She played the character of Apena, the wife of Jegede.
She dived into music in the late ’70s/80s when she released her first album, Freedom in 1977. Her most successful album was her 1981’s ‘Ever Liked My Person’? produced by the legendary Lemmy Jackson and released on Aboderin’s Skylak Records. Incidentally, it was there she met and married Igbokwe.
Essien-Igbokwe in one of her numerous interviews with Mr. Charles Okogene and published on the pages of defunct Evening Times, admitted that the album that included ‘omo Seun rere…’ fetched her her first million naira (when naira was stronger than dollar) from the late Aboderin.
A widely traveling singer whose closeness with the late Maryam, the wife of Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) was one of those instrumental to the creation of the present Akwa Ibom State. She was the first woman facilitate this writers (Okogene) air journey to Akwa Ibom in the early ’90s.
Live on, the Lady of Songs at the bosom of our Lord. Continue lending your voice to the celestial choir at your new residence till we meet to part no more.
Leave a Reply