By SundiataPOST, Abuja
On Sunday, 17 November 2013, Nigerians will pay tribute to the late Lady of Songs, Christy Essien Igokwe, with the launch of her 11th and final album at the Intercontinental Hotels, Lagos. Just before she died, the singer of the classic ‘Seun rere’ hoped to release her album and had recorded the songs – a dream her children and family are now bringing to life alongside her greatest hits. “We will be launching the album through a world class event where tribute will be paid to her,” said Kaka Igbokwe, her son who is also a musician. “The new album ‘ALL OF A SUDDEN’ will be launched along with her GREATEST HITS, and the Christy Essien Igbokwe Memorial Foundation. We would like to celebrate her art, her style and her heart – and we are excited to welcome distinguished Nigerians from all across the globe who have accepted to be there.” The Christy Essien Memorial Foundation is being renamed from the Essential Childcare Foundation to preserve her legacy. The foundation has named as members of its board of trustees, industrialists and professionals like Senator Ben Obi, Prof Dora Akinyuli, Prince Tonye Princewill, John Momoh, Gen. Sunday Chikwe (rtd), Alhaji Abba Dabo, Dr. Austin Izagbo, Patrick Hernandez, Chief Edwin Igbokwe and Chinwuba Kaka Igbokwe.
The strictly-by-invitation event will feature music performances, fashion shows and an interactive session on the foundation’s half-way home.
“Mummy, as we all know, was a woman who lived to serve humanity and her nation through her music, her acting and her very many charitable gestures,” Igbokwe said. “So funds raised at the music Concert and Fashion show will be channelled to the HALF WAY HOME project which is a home for the disadvantaged children and less privilege in our society. This was on-going project before she passed away. We intend to continue this project to keep her dream alive,” he said.
Christy Uduak Essien-Igbokwe also known as Nigeria’s Lady of Songs, put Nigeria’s name on the world music map with her evergreen “Seun Rere” track. She was the first female president of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN).
Born on 11 November 1960, the singer and actress was the chairman and managing director of Soul Train Entertainment Limited. Although she was not Yoruba, most of her hits were sung in the western Nigerian language, and drew heavily on culture and tradition. Essien’s fluency in Yoruba, English, Igbo and her native Ibibio earned her an appeal which cut across tribal lines. She died on June 30, 2011.
