Christy Essien-Igbokwe’s Death, Big Loss – Artistes

Nigeria’s “Lady of Songs”, Chief (Mrs) Christy Essien-Igbokwe, who died on Thursday has been described as an accomplished entertainer who would be sadly missed in the industry.

The Weekend Tide reliably learnt that Essien-Igbokwe passed on at the age of 51 at a Lagos hospital.

She was the first female President of Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN) and played “Apena” in the popular sitcom comedy— “The Masquerade”.

The PMAN President, Dele Abiodun who was among the early callers at the residence of the late Essien-Igbokwe in Ikeja yesterday, said that she would be greatly missed in the entertainment industry.

“It is a pity that the industry has lost another big artiste like her. She has a passion for the industry and helped in building and sustaining it”.

Abiodun described the late Essien-Igbokwe as a good ambassador of Nigeria because her music went beyond the shores of this country.

“We adore her, her openness, uprightness and she was a good listener to anyone’s complaints.

“She was someone you could rely on for anything and she used to give good advice and did not believe in cutting corners”, he said.’‘

Abiodun said that since death was inevitable, people who have the zeal for the entertainment industry should do whatever they could to make their names indelible as Essien-Igbokwe has done”, he added.

A former PMAN President, Bollaji Rosiji also said that the deceased uplifted the role of women in the industry and was a good leader.

“She carried others along with her during her reign in various capacities in the entertainment industry,” Rosiji said, noting that she set enviable standards in everything she did in her short life time.

He described Essien-Igbokwe as an evergreen artist who sang with a good voice and used the medium “to promote our values, culture and womanhood to people both at home and abroad”.

A musician, Stella Monye described the late Essien-Igbokwe as the best PMAN president the music industry ever had.

“She was full of compassion for the music industry when she was the president and carried us along everywhere she went so as to make the industry work.

“She was very transparent in her doings and dealings and as a good mother and wife, she was friendly and accommodating,” she said.

Monsgr. Gabriel Osu, Director of Social Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, said that most of the late Essien-Igbokwe’s songs made meaning to the culture and values of the country.

“We need people like her in the industry to give us that kind of music to reshape our values and culture,” he said.

Osu said that her advice to children in her hit tracks – “omo mi seun rere” or “my child behave well”— and “nzu ko” in which she pleaded for peace to reign in Igboland, would not be forgotten for many generations.

“It is how well one lived that is important, not how long,” Osu said, adding that, “she lived an exemplary life for others to emulate”.

Essien-Igbokwe’s son, Kaka, who spoke on behalf of the family, noted that they would always cherish the good memories of their matriarch.

“She led a scandal-free life and because of that, I am so proud of her,” Kaka told The Weekend Tide of her mother.