CHRISTY ESSIEN-IGBOKWE
Nigeria | Music • Film • Television
Christiana Uduak Essien-Igbokwe, popularly known as Christy Essien-Igbokwe, was one of the pioneering women of Nigerian popular entertainment and is widely remembered as “Nigeria’s Lady of Songs.” Born in Akwa Ibom State, she began performing while still young and gained early exposure through NTA Aba television programmes. In 1976, she joined the cast of the influential Nigerian television sitcom The New Masquerade, while her recording career produced memorable works including “Seun Rere.” She became one of the country’s prominent female recording artists and also appeared in films dealing with important social issues. Beyond performing, Essien-Igbokwe played a historic leadership role in Nigeria’s music industry and became the first female president of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria. Her legacy represents an important chapter in the emergence of Nigerian women as influential forces in music, television and film.
The Nelas Research Focus: Nigerian Music • Television • Women’s Leadership • Cultural Heritage
NELAS 100 GREAT WOMEN OF COLOR 1975–2025
HALL OF FAME EDITION
(50-Year Retrospective Research Project)
The Nelas 100 Great Women of Color is a curated research and documentation selection, not a definitive ranking of all Black and African women who have contributed to global entertainment.
The Nelas 100 Great Women of Color 1975–2025 is an international research and documentation project of the Nelas Academy which is an emerging international media, arts and cultural research institution created to celebrate and preserve the contributions of Black and African women in creative arts, entertainment, music, film, modelling, poetry, fashion, pageantry and cultural presentation.
© Published by the Media & Research Department of
The Nelas Academy of Arts, Media and Television.
