“Seun rere,” she sang in Yoruba: do good. The song became one of the best-loved in Nigeria, played at parties and schools for decades. Its singer, Christy Essien-Igbokwe, was not Yoruba.
Christy Essien was born in 1960 in Akwa Ibom State, in south-eastern Nigeria. She began performing as a teenager and became known on television and in talent shows. She sang in several Nigerian languages, including Yoruba, Igbo, Efik and Hausa, as well as English, which helped her reach audiences across the country.
The Lady of Songs
In the late 1970s and 1980s, she released a string of successful albums and singles, blending highlife, Afro-pop, soul and funk. “Seun Rere” was among her most famous songs, encouraging listeners to do good. Her smooth voice and elegant stage presence earned her the nickname the Lady of Songs.
Acting
She also acted, appearing in the Nigerian television series The New Masquerade, one of the most popular comedy programmes of the 1980s.
Marriage
She married Edwin Igbokwe and took the name Essien-Igbokwe. She often spoke about balancing a music career with family life.
Leading musicians
Essien-Igbokwe became the first female president of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria, PMAN, fighting for musicians’ rights and against piracy, which was devastating the industry. She also founded a foundation to support children with special needs.
The piracy fight
In the 1980s and 1990s, pirated cassettes of Nigerian music were sold openly in markets across the country, and artists earned little from their most popular songs. As PMAN president, Essien-Igbokwe campaigned for stronger copyright enforcement and for the government to treat piracy as a serious crime. The struggle for fair payment continues in the streaming era.
Death
Christy Essien-Igbokwe died in Lagos in June 2011, aged 50, after an illness. Tributes came from musicians and leaders across Nigeria.
Legacy
She was one of the leading women in Nigerian popular music at a time when the industry was dominated by men. Her multilingual songs reflected a belief in Nigerian unity. “Seun Rere” is still played and covered.
Listening
Start with “Seun Rere”, then explore her albums from the late 1970s and early 1980s for her soul and funk influences.
She was a girl from Akwa Ibom who sang in Yoruba and was loved in every region. Her life was an argument for a Nigeria that could sing together.
