Christy Essien-Igbokwe
Christy Essien-Igbokwe, famously known as Nigeria's "Lady of Songs", was a pioneering musician, actress, and an active advocate associated with the Performing Musicians Employers' Association of Nigeria.
Quick Facts
- Birth Name
- Christiana Uduak Essien
- Born
- November 11, 1960
- Died
- June 30, 2011
- State of Origin
- What is now Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria
- Notable Moniker
- Nigeria's Lady of Songs
- Advocacy
- Advocate for entertainers' welfare (associated with PMAN)
Early Life and Education
Christiana Uduak Essien was born on November 11, 1960, in Okat, Onna, in what is now Akwa Ibom State (then part of the old Eastern Region). She lost her mother at a very young age, which heavily influenced her early life and led her to live with her late mother's friend in Aba. In Aba, she attended secondary school and quickly discovered her passion for the performing arts. Her early exposure to various Nigerian cultures during her upbringing influenced her artistic range, and she became known for singing and performing in multiple Nigerian languages, including Ibibio, Igbo, Yoruba, and Hausa, a linguistic versatility that later became a major asset in her musical career.
Musical and Acting Career
Christy Essien-Igbokwe began her professional television work in Aba in the 1970s and later became associated with NTA Aba. She became widely known for her iconic role as Apena in the highly popular Nigerian television sitcom "The New Masquerade". While acting, she launched her music career, releasing her debut album "Freedom" in 1976 as a teenager. She subsequently released multiple successful albums, with her 1981 masterpiece "Ever Liked My Person" producing the massive cross-cultural hit "Seun Rere". Her unique ability to sing across multiple Nigerian languages endeared her to a broad national audience and permanently cemented her title as Nigeria's "Lady of Songs". Her music consistently addressed pressing social issues, promoting national unity, women's rights, and societal morality.
Advocacy and Legacy
Beyond her artistic endeavours, Christy Essien-Igbokwe was a formidable advocate for entertainers' welfare in Nigeria. She was active in entertainers' advocacy and associated with the Performing Musicians Employers' Association of Nigeria (PMAN). She passed away in June 2011, leaving behind a profound legacy as a cultural icon, a nation-builder, and a trailblazing figure in the Nigerian entertainment industry.
Key Works / Related Items
- The New Masquerade (Television Series, 1980s-1990s)
- Freedom (1976 Album)
- Patience (1978 Album)
- Time Waits For No One (Album)
- One Understanding (1979 Album)
- Ever Liked My Person (1981 Album)
- Seun Rere (Hit Single, 1981)
- Taking My Time (1986 Album)
Related
Nigerian Television Authority
The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) is a state-owned national television broadcaster and one of the largest state television networks in Africa, regularly carrying government announcements and official events since 1977.