FAREWELL CHRISTY ESSIEN-IGBOKWE

Notable Nigerian musician and actress, Chief Mrs. Christy Essien Igbokwe is dead at the age of 50. This news has been confirmed by her husband, Chief Edwin Igbokwe. According to reports, she took ill on Tuesday (June 28, 2011), and died yesterday (Thursday, June 30, 2011) at an undisclosed hospital in Lagos.
It is said that she passed away at exactly 9am in the arms of her eldest son, Obiora.

Chief Mrs. Christian Igbokwe was born November 11, 1960, shortly after Nigeria gained her independence.She began her musical career, while she was still in Secondary School, singing at various clubs. In 1976, she became a member of the cast of the longest running Nigerian sitcom to date - New Masquerade. She went on to become a household name as Apena, the hot-tempered wife of Jegede Sokoya (late Claudus Eke) on the show. She also acted in two early Nollywood movies, namely, Scars of Womanhood, and Flesh and Blood. Both movies dealt with the issue of child abuse and female circumcision.

On the musical side, she recorded her first album, Freedom, in 1977. Over the course of her career, she recorded a total of 10 albums. However, her most successful album was her 1981 album, Ever Liked My Person. Off that album, came perhaps her most popular and best loved song, Omo Mi Seun Rere. Her other albums include Taking My Time (1986), It's Time (1988), Hear the Call (1990) and Mysteries of Life (1994).