Christy Uduak Essien-Igbokwe, MFR was a Nigerian musician and actress. Called "Nigeria's Lady of Songs", she was known for her song "Seun Rere". Essien was the first female president of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria, and the chairwoman and managing director of Soul Train Entertainment. She sang in Igbo, Ibibio, Efik, Hausa, Yoruba and English. Essien's fluency in Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, English and her native Ibibio gave her an appeal which crossed tribal lines.
Early life
Essien was born in Okat, Onna, Akwa Ibom State. Her mother died when she was 12; she then lived in Aba, Abia with a friend of her mother, who encouraged her singing career and bought her a second-hand cassette player to record her songs.
Career
Essien began her musical career in secondary school, singing at clubs such as Uka Onu's Club and Unikoko in Aba. She appeared on Now Sound on the Nigerian Television Authority's Channel 6 in Aba. The New Masquerade also aired at that time on the station; . She joined the cast of The New Masquerade in 1976 as Akpenor, the wife of cantankerous character Jegede Sokoya. Her role on the popular show caught the public eye, and she released her debut album the following year. Essien's albums sold well, and her most-successful was 1981's Ever Liked My Person. At the forefront of issues affecting women and children, she empowered thousands of women, she appeared in early Nollywood films such as Flesh and Blood and Scars of Womanhood. Desiring to improve life for Nigerian artists, Essien is credited with initiating the first meeting which formed the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria in 1981. The association was founded a year later; King Sunny Adé was president, Sonny Okosun was vice-president, and Essien was treasurer. From 1996 to 1999, she was the PMAN's first female president. Essien appeared in many national and international shows and composed and performed Akwa Ibom State's informal anthem, "Akwa Ibom Mmi ", in 1987. She operated a shop in Etinan, selling industrial printing machines.
Family
Essien married Chief Edwin Chukwunenye Igbokwe, managing director of Punch Nigeria, in October 1979. They had four sons and three grandchildren: Elizabeth Uduak, Christiana Chizaramekpeleamaka Ijeoma, and David.
