As the entertainment industry mourns the death of Kefee Don-Momoh, ‘Nonye Ben-Nwankwo and Tunde Ajaja chronicle the life and
times of the gospel singer
The entertainment industry was thrown into frenzy Friday when the news of the death of gospel singer, Kefee, broke.
Kefee reportedly died in a hospital in the United States of America where she was taken to after she collapsed on a Chicago-bound flight on her way to a music performance. The plane, as was reported, made an emergency landing in Los Angeles for the singer to be taken to the hospital.
It was reported that Kefee went comatose and was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit. She never came out of the coma.
In the beginning…
Born Irekefe Obareki some 30 years ago, Kefee grew up in Sapele, Delta State where her family is still based. She started singing at the age of eight in the children’s choir and she never stopped until she passed on. Music was her life, though she studied Public Administration at the University of Benin, Edo State. So many years ago, Kefee released an album ‘TRIP’ with a friend. The album got her some sort of recognition in her home base in Benin.
Here comes the Branama Queen
In 2003, Kefee revolutionised gospel music with her Branama. Signed under Alec Music, the single was a hit and the album sold thousands. Granted it was sung in her Urhobo dialect, many people fell in love with the song and of course, she became more famous. Riding on the success of the singles, Kefee had to do other remixes of Branama, thus earning her the name, ‘Branama Queen’.
Love turns sour
Kefee and her music director/producer husband, Alec Godwin, used to be an item. There wasn’t really any entertainment event that both of them didn’t attend as two peas in a pod. And of course, it was devastating when the news of their separation broke in 2009. With accusations and counter accusations, Kefee and her ex called each other unprintable names and their messy separation made headline news.
…..And the queen bounces back
It was as if Kefee was caged all along. As soon as the separation became final, Kefee went into the studios and became fire! She came out hotter! For those who thought Kefee was all about ‘Branama,’ she gave them a shocker. Kefee came out with Kokoroko featuring the self-styled Egberipapa of Bayelsa, Timaya. The singles shook the music scene. That collaboration shot Kefee up again and was on the lips of everybody once again. She was nominated and won so many awards thereafter.
The other side of Kefee
Kokoroko went underground a bit but Kefee remained unfazed and decided to try out something different from music. She opened a restaurant in Lagos, Branama Kitchen and went ahead to do something else that wasn’t gospel. Her playful duet ‘Dan Maliyo’ with Becca from Ghana was also enchanting and different from what her fans were used to.
A new love is born
In 2012, Kefee surprised her fans when, out of the blues, the news of her wedding with TV/radio host, Teddy Don-Momoh hit the airwaves. It really came as a total surprise because people didn’t see it coming. The two weren’t an item and nobody knew they were dating. However, Kefee later told Saturday Beats that was what she wanted to achieve. The young lady was in love again. The love radiated all over her as Kefee was ever smiling and never failed to eulogise her husband at any opportunity she got.
Turbulent period for the Don-Momohs
The energy of the singer didn’t wane. She wanted to explode the industry yet again. She went on a short musical hiatus to attend a course in video production. But she still performed at every opportunity she got. She was reportedly on her way for a performance when she collapsed.
Prayers from ex and current
And as soon as the news of her ill health broke a few weeks ago, fans, and friends went into prayers. While confirming the news of her ill health, her husband urged Nigerians to remember them in prayers. So many people said a prayer for her and wished her well. Her ex husband, Alec, also prayed for Kefee. On his Facebook wall last week, Alec had wished Kefee a speedy recovery while telling Saturday Beats earlier in the week that he would wish the singer would get up from her sick bed and shine again.
Rumours of pregnancy debunked
Before her death, there were rumours that the singer was pregnant. Some said she was suffering from pre-eclampsia and had slim chances of survival. Anyway, an Adline Adebayo who claimed she was Kefee’s “UK Manager” went online and debunked the rumours in a statement saying, “On behalf of the family….it is with a great sadness but grateful hearts that we announce the passing to glory due to lungs failure this morning of our God’s mouth piece, chorus leader, daughter, wife, sister, friend Kefee Branama Queen … May her beautiful, gentle and precious soul rest in perfect peace. Amen! In contrast to all earlier rumours and stories in circulation, I do state that Kefee wasn’t six months pregnant and neither did she have pre-eclampsia.”
No official statement from family yet
Until press time, the family of the singer was yet to release an official statement concerning her death. Her Nigerian publicist didn’t release any statement either, neither did he comment on the death of the singer. Perhaps that was why her ex husband, Alec, refused to react to Kefee’s death saying, “I have not heard any news from her husband or her family and that is what I should believe. It is sad. In fact, it is safer for me to say she is not dead. I cannot imagine an energetic and lively Kefee dead. I cannot picture her dead. I just pray it is not true,” he said
Last twitter post
On her twitter page which appeared to be handled by someone else, the following message was posted on June 8, “All of my help comes from the LORD, He is my refuge & my forest, mighty in battle (sickness). The LORD is my healer. Amen & Amen to all your prayers.”
Her last post on Facebook was on May 28, 2014 with the singer saying, “Need some new friends up in here…Letting go of some old, just there/monitoring friends. .. Dem Go Talk. It’s a natural something. Want a microphone?….and the Branama and Kokoroko Queen is back! with Dem Go Talk-Kefee”
Fans wail
Also, some of her fans took to her Facebook wall to express their condolences and shock about the sad event.
Royal Prince Sumpa, who wrote from Zambia, said she could not believe that her friend was dead. She wrote, “Oh God, how could my friend go without saying goodbye to her royal friend in Lusaka, Zambia? This is too much pain for me to handle, seriously…I am short of words. Can someone tell me how my Princess royal friend died? You Rest In Peace my sister…We even made plans to record song together with Shovel Franklin and Papa SON in Kingston Jamaica. How could you leave just like that and at a tender age?”
Another fan, Prince Michael Agunloye, said, “I know you in my own little way, I pray for your soul to be accepted by Him, your creator. Rest in perfect peace my dear. God knows better, may God give Don Momoh the strength to live life properly again after your departure.
Uchechi Usoh said she could not believe Kefee was indeed dead. She said, “I can’t believe you are gone, my Kokoroko queen. I pray that our good Lord will grant you eternal rest. You surely will be missed Kefee.”
Nk Chigbue wrote, “I can’t believe this…prayed so hard, hoping and wishing u wake up from the coma…but I guess God said it was about time. R.I.P Queen Kefee Obareki Don-Momoh #tearsinmyeyes.”
Colleagues mourn Kefee
In a telephone interview with one of our correspondents, popular singer, Sammie Okposo, described her death as unfortunate and a shock to him and everyone concerned.
He said, “I don’t think we would ever be able to recover from her passing. Kefee was not just a colleague to me, she was my sister and we worked closely over the years; from her first album till now. It is not just for the people of Delta State or the music industry, or Nigerian entertainment industry, or Africa, but I dare say the world because Kefee has done international events and collaborations. She was an international act.”
Okposo said he never thought he would add RIP to Kefee’s name at a time like this until about 70 or 80 years from now. “To put it on my BB profile, facebook and instagram feels so strange and difficult. But then, we can ask questions but we cannot question God when it comes to matters like this. It is very sad. The only way I can comfort myself is to celebrate her for what she lived for and the impact that she made in the time that she was with us.”
Singer, Essence has also remained inconsolable since the news of her passing broke. On her BlackBerry Messenger, the singer mourns late Kefee using her picture as her DP. Speaking to Saturday Beats, Essence said, “Kefee was a fighter, a strong Delta woman. She was very vocal and enterprising. She was a unique talent. She had bubbly personality and she will be thoroughly missed. A vacuum has been created.”
Another singer, Weird MC, described her death as a great shock, saying she was yet to come to terms with the news. “It has been a major shock. It is like a dream; so I’m speechless and stunned by the news. I don’t understand what is going on. However, I would miss her for her simplicity
PUNCH
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