Who was Christy Essien-Igbokwe?
Christy Essien-Igbokwe was a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and actress. She was dubbed “Nigeria’s Lady of Songs” for her amazing talent. Christy Essien-Igbokwe was known for timeless classics like “Seun Rere,” “Hear the Call,” “Give Me a Chance,” and “Tete Nu Na Ula.” Aside from her music, Christy appeared in early Nollywood films, such as “Flesh and Blood,” alongside Richard Mofe-Damijo and “Scars of Womanhood,” co-starring Kate Henshaw.
Christy Essien-Igbokwe’s full name is Christiana Uduak Essien-Igbokwe. She was born on November 11, 1960, in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Christy Igbokwe died of gastrointestinal disease on June 30, 2011. At the time of her death, she was 50 years old.
About Christy Essien-Igbokwe’s parents and siblings
Christy Essien-Igbokwe was born to her parents in Okat, Onna, Akwa Ibom State. She faced difficulties as a child, having lost her mother at age 12. Essien also had to deal with an abusive father. Following her mother’s death, Christy moved to Aba to live with her older brother, who was a soldier. According to the “Lady of Songs”, her brother’s wife mistreated her during her stay with them, prompting her to leave their home and live with a friend instead.
In a 2010 interview with Vanguard, Christy Essien-Igbokwe shared what growing up felt like:
“I grew up in Aba and my childhood was very challenging. I used to have a brother who was a soldier then. He was always on transfer owing to the nature of his job. I was left to survive with his wife, who almost turned me into a house girl.”
About Christy Essien-Igbokwe’s marriage and husband
Christy Essien-Igbokwe was married to her husband Chief Edwin Igbokwe. The couple tied the knot in October 1979 and remained together until the “Seun Rere” singer died in 2011. Christy Essien-Igbokwe and Edwin Igbokwe’s marriage lasted for 32 years and is blessed with four children.
Who was Christy Essien-Igbokwe’s husband – Edwin Igbokwe?
Christy Essien-Igbokwe’s husband, Chief Edwin Chukwunenye Igbokwe, was the General Manager of The Punch newspaper. He is also a businessman. However, Chief Igbokwe is more popular in the media for being the husband of late Nigerian musician Christy Essien-Igbokwe. They got married in October 1979 and had four kids together.
In a 2014 interview with The Punch, Edwin Igbokwe shared that Christy Essien-Igbokwe had prophesied her death.
In his words:
“She was a prophet. She revealed when she would die to the children and by extension, to me. . . She told our children that she would live for 50 years and that any single day thereafter, they should be thanking God.”
After losing his wife, Chief Edwin Igbokwe reportedly kept her corpse in his home for three months, hoping she would wake up.
He narrated:
“I felt dazed, shocked and awed when I was told I lost my everything, my companion and the love of my life. I caved into denial zone. We immediately moved her body into a room in our home, unknown to many . . . She lay in that room for almost three months. I was going crazy. I did not want to believe she would not wake up.”
Three years after Christy Essien’s death, her husband, Edwin, remarried. He married former actress and businesswoman Oluchi Phillips in 2014. According to reports gathered by DNB Stories Africa, the union created a rift in the family, with Christy Essien-Igbokwe’s children boycotting the wedding ceremony. Meanwhile, Edwin Igbokwe has since come forward to state that he initially did not want to remarry but found he could not cope alone.
He explained:
“Nobody expected what happened to happen. I thought I could stay alone but I discovered it wasn’t possible and it would have been very terrible if people started seeing different women coming in and out of my house. I wanted a responsible situation. I want to live longer.”
Christy Essien-Igbokwe’s husband also claimed that the late singer kept appearing to him in his dreams, urging him to move on with his life.
In his words:
“After the burial, I was alone and lonely, I felt guilty for her death . . . I began to see her in my dreams, encouraging me to live my life . . . Her appearances in my dreams encouraged me to move on. If she didn’t appear to me in my dreams, I wouldn’t have remarried.”
About Christy Essien-Igbokwe’s kids
Christy Essien-Igbokwe has four children (4 sons) from her marriage to Chief Edwin Igbokwe. The “Seun Rere” singer’s sons are Obiora Chukwuemeka, Chinwuba Kenechukwu Kaka, Solomon Chukwukadibia, and Lucky Samuel Azubueze.
Here is everything to know about Christy Essien-Igbokwe’s children:
1. Obiora Chukwuemeka Igbokwe
Chukwuemeka Obiora Igbokwe is Christy Essien-Igbokwe and Chief Edwin Igbokwe’s first son. He got married in December 2011 to his wife Onyinyechukwu Madubobi. Aside from his wedding, there is not a lot of information available about Obiora Igbokwe.
2. Chinwuba Kenechukwu Kaka Igbokwe
Chinwuba Kenechukwu Kaka Igbokwe is Christy Essien-Igbokwe’s second son with Chief Edwin Igbokwe. Like his mother, Chinwuba Igbokwe is a music artist. He is a hip-hop artist and producer. Kenechukwu releases music under the stage name “Naija Kaka.” He also runs an Instagram page for his late mother. Chinwuba Igbokwe and his mother performed at the Inspire Music benefit concert in January 2009. Kaka is the father of Christy Essien-Igbokwe’s granddaughter, Christiana Chizaram Ijeoma, who is also a singer.
3. Solomon Chukwukadibia Igbokwe
Igbokwe Solomon Chukwukadibia is Christy Essien-Igbokwe’s third son with her husband Chief Edwin Igbokwe. Not a lot of information is currently available about him.
4. Lucky Samuel Azubueze Igbokwe
Samuel Lucky Azubueze Igbokwe is Christy Essien-Igbokwe and Edwin Igbokwe’s last child. Information about Samuel is currently scarce in the media. However, in a 2011 interview, he shared that he was a professional football player.
