Christy Essien-Igbokwe
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Christiana Uduak Essien-Igbokwe, MFR (11 November 1960 – 30 June 2011) was a Nigerian musician and actress. Called "Nigeria's Lady of Songs," she was known for her songs "Seun Rere," "Tete Nu Na Ula," "Ife," "Hear the Call" and "Give Me a Chance." She was the first female president of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) and the chairperson and managing director of Soul Train Entertainment. She sang in
Igbo Igbo may refer to: * Igbo people, an ethnic group of Nigeria * Igbo language, their language * anything related to Igboland, a cultural region in Nigeria See also * Ibo (disambiguation) * Igbo mythology * Igbo music * Igbo art * * Igbo-Ukwu, a t ...
,
Ibibio Ibibio may refer to: *Ibibio language, Niger-Congo language of Nigeria *Ibibio people an ethnic group of southern Nigeria *Ibibio Sound Machine, an English electronic afro-funk band who sing in Ibibio See also * Ibiblio, a digital library and ar ...
,
Efik The Efik are an ethnic group located primarily in southern Nigeria, and western Cameroon. Within Nigeria, the Efik can be found in the present-day Cross River State and Akwa Ibom state. The Efik speak the Efik language which is a member of the ...
,
Hausa Hausa may refer to: * Hausa people, an ethnic group of West Africa * Hausa language, spoken in West Africa * Hausa Kingdoms, a historical collection of Hausa city-states * Hausa (horse) or Dongola horse, an African breed of riding horse See also ...
, Yoruba, and
English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...
. Her native language is
Ibibio Ibibio may refer to: *Ibibio language, Niger-Congo language of Nigeria *Ibibio people an ethnic group of southern Nigeria *Ibibio Sound Machine, an English electronic afro-funk band who sing in Ibibio See also * Ibiblio, a digital library and ar ...
.


Early life

Christy was born in Okat,
Onna Onna is a Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Its name comes from an acronym of the names of the four predominant clans in the area: Oniong, Nnung Ndem, Awa Afaha and Asuna Nung Oku. Onna has a population of about 295,000 people ...
,
Akwa Ibom State Akwa Ibom is a States of Nigeria, state in the South South, South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. It borders Cross River State to the east, Rivers State and Abia State to the west and north-west, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south. The state ...
. Her mother died when she was 12; she then lived in
Aba, Abia Aba is a city in southeastern Nigeria. It lies along the west bank of the Aba River and is at the intersection of roads leading to settlements such as Port Harcourt, Owerri, Umuahia, Ikot Ekpene, and Ikot-Abasi. Aba was established by t ...
, with a friend of her mother, who encouraged her singing career and bought her a second-hand cassette player to record her songs.


Career

Christy began her musical career in secondary school, singing at clubs such as Unikoko in Aba. She appeared as a regular on the NTA Aba variety shows ''Now Sound'' and ''Ukaonu's Club''. In 1976, she joined the cast of '' The New Masquerade'' as Akpenor, the wife of the cantankerous character Jegede Sokoya (Claude Eke). She released her debut album (''Freedom'') the following year. Essien's most successful album was 1981's ''Ever Liked My Person?'' (produced by
Lemmy Jackson Otu Udofa, professionally known as Lemmy Jackson, is a Nigerian music producer who produced songs for many prominent Nigerians artists of the 1980s. He produced ''Wait for Me'' a duet by Onyeka Onwenu and King Sunny Adé, he also worked with Alex ...
). Christy is known for her
feminist Feminism is a range of socio-political movements and ideology, ideologies that aim to define and establish the political, economic, personal, and social gender equality, equality of the sexes. Feminism holds the position that modern soci ...
activism, as she appeared in early
Nollywood Nollywood, a portmanteau of Nigeria and Hollywood, is a sobriquet that originally referred to the Nigerian film industry. The origin of the term goes back to the early 2000s, traced to an article in ''The New York Times''. Due to the history ...
films such as ''Flesh and Blood'' (co-starring with
Richard Mofe-Damijo Richard Evans Mofe-Damijo (born 6 July 1961), popularly known as RMD, is a foremost Nigerian actor, writer, producer, lawyer, and former journalist. He was also a Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Delta State in 2009. In 2005, he won the ...
, Ameze Imarhiagbe, and Ekpeyong Bassey Inyang; directed by
Chico Ejiro Chico Ejiro (born Chico Aziakpono; died 25 December 2020) was a Nigerian movie director, screenwriter, and producer. Little was known about Ejiro other than he was born in Isoko, Delta, Nigeria; he originally studied agriculture; and he was drawn ...
) and ''Scars of Womanhood'' (co-starring
Kate Henshaw Kate Henshaw, also known as Kate Henshaw-Nuttall (born 19 July 1971), is a veteran Nigerian actress. In 2008, she won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in the movie ''Stronger than Pain''. ...
,
Sam Loco Efe Sam Loco Efe (25 December 1945 – 7 August 2011), born Samuel Arase Efeimwonkiyeke in Enugu, was a Nigerian actor, producer and director. Early life and education Efe was born in Enugu State, Nigeria, the son of Arase Efeimwonkiyeke, a war ...
,
Justus Esiri Justus Esiri (20 November 1942 – 19 February 2013) was a Nigerian actor, generally considered to be one of the pillars of Nollywood with an acting career that goes way back to the 1960s. He came into prominence for his role in the popular Ni ...
, and
Francis Duru Francis Duru (born July 27, 1969) is a Nigerian actor who in 2007 received the ''United Nations Ambassador of Peace award'' for his positive influence on the youths. In 2010, Duru was appointed as the interim president of the Actors Guild of N ...
), both of which addressed child abuse and
female circumcision Female genital mutilation (FGM) (also known as female genital cutting, female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) and female circumcision) is the cutting or removal of some or all of the vulva for non-medical reasons. FGM prevalence varies ...
. Essien initiated the first meeting, which formed the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) in 1981. The association was founded a year later, with
King Sunny Adé Chief Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye (born 22 September 1946), known professionally as King Sunny Adé, is a Nigerian jùjú singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He is regarded as one of the first African pop musicians to gain internationa ...
as president,
Sonny Okosun Sonny Okosun (1 January 1947 – 24 May 2008) was a Nigerian musician, who was known as the leader of the Ozzidi band. He named his band Ozzidi after a renowned Ijaw languages, Ijaw river god, but to Okosun the meaning was "there is a message". ...
as vice-president, and Essien as treasurer. From 1996 to 1999, she was the PMAN's first female president. Essien has appeared in many national and international shows, and she has composed and performed Akwa Ibom State's informal anthem, "Akwa Ibom Mmi (My Akwa Ibom)", in 1987. Christy Essien Igbokwe released 10 albums between 1977 and 1992, with the eleventh still unreleased after her death until in 2013. In her later years, she performed with her second son, Chinwuba Kenechukwu Kaka, at the January 2009 Inspire Africa benefit concert and participated in the MTN Musical Festival later that year. Chinwuba Kenechukwu Kaka is a hip-hop artist and producer and the father of her granddaughter Christiana Chizaramekpeleamaka Ijeoma. Essien's album, ''Ever Liked My Person?'' was certified platinum in
Nigeria Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean to the south. It covers an area of . With Demographics of Nigeria, ...
. A biography titled "The will of God" was produced and sponsored by Exxon Mobil in the 90s to show her life and career so far at the time. Her granddaughter remixes the song "Seun Rere".


Death

Essien-Igbokwe died of
gastrointestinal disease Gastrointestinal diseases (abbrev. GI diseases or GI illnesses) refer to diseases involving the Human gastrointestinal tract, gastrointestinal tract, namely the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine and rectum; and the accessory or ...
on 30 June 2011 at age 50 at
Lagos State University Teaching Hospital Lagos State University Teaching Hospital popularly known as LASUTH is a state-owned teaching hospital in Lagos, Nigeria, attached to the Lagos State University. It is in Ikeja – the state's capital. LASUTH also shares structures with the Col ...
. Former
Lagos State Lagos State (, ) is a States of Nigeria, state in South West, Nigeria. Of the 36 States of Nigeria, Nigerian states, Lagos is the second List of Nigerian states by population, most populous state but the List of Nigerian states by area, smallest ...
Governor
Babatunde Fashola Babatunde Raji Fashola ( ; born 28 June 1963) is a Nigerian lawyer and politician who served as the federal minister of Works and Housing of Nigeria from 2019 to 2023. He was the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing (Nigeria), minister of Pow ...
, Onyeka Owenu, Bisi Olatilo (Veteran Broadcaster), Soni Irabor, Oritz Wiliki,
Remi Tinubu Oluremi "Remi" Tinubu (born 21 September 1960) is a Nigerian politician and current First Lady of Nigeria, first lady of Nigeria since 2023, as wife of President Bola Tinubu. She was the First Lady of Lagos State, first lady of Lagos State from ...
,
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan (born 20 November 1957) is a Nigerian politician who served as the president of Nigeria from 2010 to 2015. He lost the 2015 presidential election to former military head of state General Muhammadu Buhari and w ...
,
Aliko Dangote Aliko Mohammad Dangote (born 10 April 1957) is a Nigerian businessman known for his key roles in Dangote Group and Dangote Refinery, Refinery. In 2011, he was appointed as member of the economic management team by President Goodluck Jonathan. D ...
, and
Victor Uwaifo Victor Efosa Uwaifo (1 March 1941 – 28 August 2021) was a Nigerian musician, writer, sculptor, and musical instrument inventor, university lecturer, music legend, and the first Honorable Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism in Nigeria. ...
, attended her funeral amongst others. To celebrate the remembrance of the late music icon on 30 June 2020, the granddaughter of Christy Essien Igbokwe "Christiana Chizaramekpeleamaka Ijeoma" covered "You're Welcome" from Disney's " Moana".


Awards and honours


International awards

# "Silver Prize" Winner at 6th Seoul Songs Festival, South Korea – 1983 # "Grand Prix " Winner at Neewollah Music Festival at Independence,
Kansas Kansas ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the west. Kansas is named a ...
, U.S. – 1983 # "International Special Achievement" Award of MUSEXPO, Acapulco, Mexico, 1983 # "Certificate of Merit" Award for Song writing and composing at the 10th Annual American # Songs Festival, Los Angeles, U.S. – 1983 # "Audience Favourite" Award of International Music Festival at Baker University, U.S. – 1983 # "Silver Prize" Winner at Second International Music Festival of Oklahoma University, U.S. – 1983 # "Outstanding Performance" Award at the World Song Festival, L.A. Arts Academy, U.S. – 1984 # "Distant Accord" Award at the FIDOF Festival in Hollywood, L.A., U.S. – 1990 # Honorary Doctorate Degree (Honoris Causa) Award in
Business Management Business administration is the administration of a commercial enterprise. It includes all aspects of overseeing and supervising the business operations of an organization. Overview The administration of a business includes the performance o ...
by #
Cornerstone University Cornerstone University is a private evangelical Christian university in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States. Cornerstone University has undergraduate and graduate programs, two seminaries ( Grand Rapids Theological Seminary and Asia Biblical T ...
& Theological Seminary, Jerusalem, Israel – 2010 # Honorary
Doctorate Degree A doctorate (from Latin ''doctor'', meaning "teacher") or doctoral degree is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities and some other educational institutions, derived from the ancient formalism '' licentia docendi'' ("licence to teach ...
(Honoris Causa) Award in Literature-in-Africa the by University of # Berkley, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. – 2010


National awards

# "Lady of Songs" by Nigerian Entertainment Writers – 1980 # "Star Performer" Award of Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) – 1983 # "Best Actress Runner-Up" Award for Excellence by silver Jubilee Committee of the Nigerian Television Organization of Nigeria (NTA) – 1984 # "African Music Mother" Award by Music Extravaganza'84 in collaboration with African Music Development, New York, U.S. # "Adaha Onna" (Pillar of Onna LGA) # Akwa Ikwo Eket (The Greatest Singer from Eket Community) by Eket LGA Authority # Aha Nwanyi Ejiagamba 1 of Oru Ahiazu, Mbaise, Imo State # "Golden Voice of Africa" Award by music Students Association, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife # "Gold Award" of 25 Nigerian Celebrities – 1988 # "Certificate of Honour" by the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Anambra State Council – 1990 # "Certificate of Recognition" by National Film Festival – 1992 # "Service to the Music Profession" Award by PMAN the on platform of NIGERIAN MUSIC AWARD (to Christy Essien Igbokwe/Edwin Igbokwe) for their efforts in forming and creating PMAN – 1988 # Special Musical Patents Decoration Award – 1994 # "Merit Award for Excellence in the Field of Music Therapy" by Medical Association of Nigeria # "Award of Honour" by Nigeria Institute of Journalism Student's Union, Ibadan Campus # "Certificate of Honour" in recognition of her role as a woman of substance and her excellent performance in musical entertainment by the National Association of Akwa Ibom Students, University of Ibadan chapter. # "Grand Fellow of Nigerian Youths" by the Nigerian Youth Organization # "Queen of Music International" Award by the Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners, Lagos State, and Degbola International Promotions – 1996 # "Outstanding Achievements Uplifting Female" Award by Youth Re-Orientation Movement – 1996 # "Merit Award in Honour of Care for the Nigerian Child" by Broadway International School – 2000 # "Award of Excellence and Outstanding Leadership Qualities" as PMAN first Female President – 1998 # "The Best Dressed Female Musician" Award in the Patriotic Dress category at the Nigeria Fashion Show – 1997 # "Member of the Greatest Performers" Award in recognition of her immense contribution to the development and reformation of the world youths – 1996 # "Award of Excellence" as Matron of the Great Eni-Njoku Hall (University of Lagos chapter) – 2000 # "Pacesetter Award" in recognition of her vision, initiator and organizer of the First ECOWAS Cultural and Musical Festival & the Entertainment Award – 1997 # "Lover of Children" Award in recognition of her contribution towards child social and welfare development in society – by legendary Page Boys Club (Socio-Cultural & Humanitarian Club) # "Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) by Federal Government of Nigeria – 1999 # "Defender of Children" Award by Interclassic Youth Forum (a non-governmental organization) # "Outstanding Achievement in Entertainment Industry" Award by Top Celebrities Magazine – 2010 # "Merit Award for African Heritage" by The Gong African News Magazine – 2010 # "Honorary Fellowship Award" by Institute of Corporate & Business Affairs Management, Nigeria. # "Nigerian Woman of Valor" Award by National Centre for Women Development, Abuja – 2010.


Extra positions and awards

# Matron; Eni-Njoku Hall, University of Lagos # Matron; Akwa Ibom Journalists Forum, Kaduna # Matron; National Association of Akwa Ibom Students, University of Port Harcourt # Matron; Nigerian Youth Tourist Organization # Matron; National Association of Akwa Ibom Students, University of Lagos # Matron; Association of Beauty Therapy & Cosmetology of Nigeria, Lagos # Matron; Worldwide Twins and Multiple Foundation # Deputy Vice President/Vice Chairman, Governing Council of Institute of Corporate and Business Affairs Management, Nigeria. # Entertainment Icon" by West African Women in Leadership Conference (in Ghana) – 2011 # "Excellence in Outstanding Performance & Hard Work" by National Association of Akwa Ibom State Students (NAAKISS) – University of Lagos Chapter – 2011 # NOPA 2012 for outstanding contribution to the entertainment industry # Essien-Igbokwe was known as "Lady of Songs". On 11 November 2018, what would have been her 58th birthday, Google commemorated her life with a
doodle A doodle is a drawing made while a person's attention is otherwise occupied. Doodles are simple drawings that can have concrete representational meaning or may just be composed of random and abstract art, abstract lines or shapes, generally w ...
. # "Award of Excellence" by Ibom Talent Development Center 11 June 2021


Discography

* ''Freedom'' (1977) * ''Patience'' (1978) * ''Time Waits For No One'' (1978) * ''One Understanding'' (1979) * ''Give Me A Chance'' (1980) * ''Ever Liked My Person?'' (1981) * ''It's Time'' (1982) * ''Taking My Time'' (1986) * ''Hear The Call'' (1990) * ''Mysteries of Life'' (1992) * ''All of a Sudden'' (2013)


References


External links


Seun Rere on OldNaija.comChristy Essien on Discogs
{{DEFAULTSORT:Essien-Igboke, Christy 1960 births 2011 deaths Entertainers from Akwa Ibom State Nigerian women singer-songwriters Nigerian rhythm and blues musicians 20th-century Nigerian women singers English-language singers from Nigeria Yoruba-language singers of Nigeria 20th-century Nigerian actresses Igbo-language singers Nigerian film actresses Ibibio people 21st-century Nigerian actresses People from Akwa Ibom State Nigerian women musicians Nigerian highlife musicians Nigerian hip-hop musicians Nigerian soul musicians 21st-century Nigerian women musicians Members of the Order of the Federal Republic