STATE BURIAL FOR CHRISTY ESSIEN

Christy Essien Igbokwe

Musicians in Nigeria are planning a state burial for the late Lady of Songs, Christy Essien-Igbokwe. This is the information coming from the Burial Committee which has been meeting ever since the death of Christy on Thursday, June 30. 

The committee is headed by Dr. Austin Izagbo and has Ken Calebs Olumese, Onyeka Onwenu, Tee Mac Itseli, Fred Agbaje, Clarion Chukwura, Yeni Kuti, Laolu Akins , Daniel Wilson, Nonye Ben Nwankwo, Alozie Uzoukwu and Tony Okoroji as members. Okoroji is also the head of the Ceremonial and Publicity Sub-Committees.

Christy Essien-Igbokwe was a Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) and the Federal Government is also going to play a big role in the burial ceremony. Ever since Governor Babatunde Fashola  of Lagos visited the Talabi Street, Ikeja, Lagos home of the deceased and noticed the amount of sympathizers visiting the compound daily, his government has constantly supplied light refreshments for the family and the Lagos State Government is heavily involved in the burial plans.

Christy Essien will be buried in Lagos on Friday, September 9, 2011.

J-MARTINS TO RELEASE NEW WORKS THIS MONTH

J-Martins n Fally Ipupa

It’s two years now since the release of J. Martins’ last album, ELEVATED and expectations are high for a new body of work from him. He knows that and has been busy working. So far, there are already enough songs to make up an album, but he might not be dropping a full album this year. This is because he feels that there are already a lot of that in the market. 

However, he has just recorded a couple of songs with the Malian sensation, Fally Ipupa and a South African, Cabo Snoop of the “Windhoek” fame.  “Good Time” is one of them and it featured Cabo Snoop. The video has already been shot in South Africa while “Only Papa” was with Fally Ipupa who he had featured on the remix of his song “Jupa” last year. The songs would be released this August.

He is also planning for a big concert in October this year. The show would be tagged J. MARTINS AND FRIENDS and would hold at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. Fally Ipupa and Cabo Snoop have already been confirmed for the show.

On his marriage plans, he first laughed: “As a gay person, am I going to marry a man or a woman? I am getting married soon and I have a lady I have been seeing for some time now. She is not in the public eye and I will like to respect her privacy. Once we are ready to go public, you will be the first to know.”