6th September, 2011
Senator Ita-Giwa has described the death of Nigeria’s Lady of Songs, Christy Essien Igbokwe, as a big loss to the nation.
Speaking at a symposium organised for the late artiste at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, yesterday, Ita-Giwa said Christy Essien Igbokwe lived a life worthy of emulation.
“What stood her out was not so much her artistic antecedents and expertise, but her humanity, compassion and cheerful candour.
Christy was a woman who positively affected the lives of those around her. This aspect of her character is very important to note because there are many great and accomplished artistes who do not possess a drop of milk of human kindness.
“For these ones, the world owes them a favour on account of their talents, forgetting that the talents for which they are very proud were given to them by God.
“As an apostle of family values, she composed a classic Nigerian evergreen song, ‘Seun Rere’ which has remained an anthem of positive family values,” she stated.
Also speaking at the symposium, former Minister for Information, Profesor Dora Akunyili described Christy Essien as a rare gem. “She was not only an entertainment colossus, but also a detribalised Nigerian,†she stated. The former minister expressed profound gratitude to members of the Christy Essien-Igbokwe burial committee “for choosing the right topic that bears eloquent testimony to the relevance of the artiste in the socio-political development of Nigeria.”
“The late Christy Essien-Igbokwe while on earth used drama as a platform to make political statements in addition to educating and entertaining people through her music.
“It is often said that laughter is the best medicine. If this is so, Christy contributed immensely towards the good health of Nigerians, relieving them of stress by making them laugh each time they watched or remembered an episode in the New Masqurade,†she said.
—Dedeigbo Ayodeji