Late Nigerian singer and actress Christy Essien-Igbokwe has been honoured by the tech giant Google with a doodle on her 58th posthumous birthday.
Doodles are changes made to the Google logo to celebrate holidays, anniversaries, and the lives of famous artists, pioneers, and scientists.
Born on November 11, 1960, in Okat, Onna Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Igbokwe rose to fame in the late 70s and was named Nigeria’s Lady of Song in 1980 by Nigerian entertainment writers. Her song “Seun Rere” is one of the most popular Nigerian songs ever has been remade by a number of artists.
She was also known for composing the unofficial anthem of Akwa Ibom State “Akwa Ibom Mmi” in 1987.
Essien-Igbokwe began her musical career in Secondary School singing at various clubs such as Uka Onu’s Club and Unikoko in Aba, Abia State. She featured on a programme called ‘Now Sound’ on the Nigerian Television Authority Channel 6, Aba .
During that time, a show called ‘The New Masquerade’ was also airing on the same station. During a taping of one of the show’s episodes, she corrected a cast member who rehearsed his lines incorrectly, thereafter she was offered a role in the series.
In 1976 she joined the cast of ‘The New Masquerade’and played the role of Akpenor, the wife of the cantankerous character, Jegede Sokoya (played by Claude Eke).Her role on that popular show put her in the limelight and in 1977 she launched a professional music career by releasing her debut album called ‘Freedom’.
Many of her albums became hit records, but none came close to the success of her 1981 hit album ‘Ever Liked My Person’ produced by Lemmy Jackson.
A recipient of numerous local and international, including an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Berkeley, Chicago, Illinois, Igbokwe was the first female president of the performing musician association of Nigeria (PMAN) and the managing director of Soul Train Entertainment Limited.