By Steve Dede
The Nigerian music industry, with fans, family members and friends of Irikefe Obareki aka Kefee are all waiting with bated breath for good news concerning the singer’s health.
Many didn’t believe when it was first reported on Thursday, May 29, 2014 that the Delta State born gospel singer had collapsed on a flight. The news, which was first reported by German based Nigerian blogger Stella Dimoko Korkus, claim that the ‘Kokoroko’ singer passed out ‘mid-flight on her way to Chicago, forcing the plane to make an emergency stop’ in order for her to receive medical care.
This initial report wasn’t taken seriously by a lot of people as the authenticity of the story was not unconfirmed. Hours later however, the singer took to Twitter to confirm the reports but assured fans that she was doing well. ‘Thanks for your prayers & well wishes, my people nothing dey happen and No shaking.(sic)’, Kefee tweeted.
Calm was temporarily restored, but a few hours after her assuring tweet, bad news hit her fans again as reports emerged that the ‘Branama’ singer had gone into a coma. Blogger Stella Dimoko Korkus, who first reported the incident, said the singer was hospitalized and on life support in Las Vegas, Nevada after suffering brain damage.
‘I have been going back and forth with this info and confused whether to keep it to myself for fear of making this viral or calling on people to join hands and pray for Kefee Don Momoh’, Dimoko Korkus wrote.
Several reports also revealed that her husband Teddy Esosa had flown to the US to be at his wife’s side. It was alleged that the singer fell into a coma immediately after her midflight collapse and that someone else had sent out the tweets.
Some still had doubts, while panic swept others, as fans and colleagues prayed and bombarded her Twitter timeline to wish her quick recovery.
Any iota of doubt that existed that Kefee was in grave danger was wiped when as Kefee’s husband Teddy Esosa took to social media to urge fans, friends and colleagues to pray for the singer.
Two days later, on Thursday, June 5, 2014, Kefee’s husband Teddy Don-Momoh confirmed his wife’s comatose state with an official statement released to the media. Teddy, who is currently by Kefee’s side, asked fans and well-wishers to pray for the ‘Kokoro’ singer and expressed optimism that his wife will be well soon.
‘Kefee wants her friends, fans and well-wishers to know that she loves them. We just need prayers now; she just needs our prayers now because there is nothing God cannot do; prayer is the key. God is still the same yesterday, today and forever, He has done it before and he will do it again’, he said in the statement.
The downward turn of Kefee’s health has left the whole music industry worrying and praying for her swift recovery. As reports have suggested that the singer is responding for treatment, prayers and recovery wishes have flooded the Twitter timeline of the Kefee as the country anxiously awaits good news.
The cause of Kefee’s collapse is not yet known, but it is widely reported that it has something to do with brain damage suffered by the Delta State singer. Some reports also have it that the Delta State born singer is 6 months pregnant. All efforts to get real diagnoses from the family proved abortive as they couldn’t be reached by phone or by emails.
Kefee’s collapse brings to mind the sad passing of Nigerian singer Goldie who died on Valentine’s Day 2013 after collapsing. The late music star slumped shortly after arriving from Los Angeles, US where she attended the 55th Grammy Awards ceremony. The cause of her death was initially uncertain before autopsy reports revealed that the late pop singer died from complications of hypertension. It is also barely three months since the music industry mourned the passing of one of its own Zara Gretti, who passed on Friday, March 28 due to complications from Multiple sclerosis.
Kefee and her husband were reported to have recently obtained diplomas in filmmaking from the U.S and had started on some projects together, one of which was said to be a music video directed by Teddy. She also released a single titled, ‘Dem go talk’ last month.
Kefee is a prolific song writer, a skilled dancer and a passionate singer. Born in Sapele, Delta State, Kefee started singing at an early age from the children’s choir and from there, went on to become one of the most popular gospel musicians in Nigeria.
Kefee studied Public Administration in the University of Benin, Edo State where she bagged a Diploma and thereafter released an album with her friend Esthee. The duo went by the moniker Esthee and Kefee and their album titled ‘Trip’ was a success in the Niger Delta region.
In December 2003, she signed on with Alec Music and released her first solo album titled ‘Branama’. She has followed that with four more albums.
Kefee has been married twice. In 2004, she married her record label boss and mentor Alec Godwin, before divorcing him and marrying ace radio presenter Teddy in 2012.
Aside from music, Kefee is always known to be a lover of foods and has opened a restaurant called ‘Branama Kitchen’.
The whole music industry, fans, family members, and friends are all praying, hoping and waiting for good news. We all want to see Kefee again, we all want to hear her melodic voice. We all want to see that smile, and we want Kefee to wake up.
NET brings you some of the celebrities comments from Facebook and Twitter.
Weird MC: My sister by his special grace you must testify. #kefee
Timi Dakolo: My prayer goes to #Kefee. May the healing hand of GOD come upon you to set you free from all health shackles in Jesus name.
Eva Alordiah: Please take a minute off your very busy schedule, and say a Prayer for Kefee. God bless you as you join us. #PrayForKefee
Dele Momodu: My thoughts and prayers are with talented singer Kefee who’s reportedly sick in the US.
Maheeda: Singer Kefee is in Coma she needs our prayers.
Susan Peters: Pray for #KEFEE# that every dry bone will rise again in Jesus name; Amen she will live to testify to the goodness of God.
DJ Lambogini: Please when you all get to your various churches and mosques, kindly pray for Kefee, she struggling with death now.
Waje: Please everybody #prayforKefee . We will not lose her, she’s healed in Jesus name. Open your mouth for just two minutess and confess good health, strength in her lungs. By His stripes Kefee is healed.
Rugged Man: We shouldn’t forget to put Kefee in our prayers. We pray God will heal her. She is healed in Jesus name
Omawumi: God has said that ‘He will satisfy us with long life’ and ‘By His Stripes, We are healed’. Let us join hands and #prayforkefeethat God will restore her to mint condition. #deltans#musicians’
Don Pedro Okojie: Kefee the Branama queen, collapsed on a flight to Chicago after a performance. She is still in coma. Wherever you are, please pray for her.
Dayo Amusa: Good Morning Nigerians and how was your night? Please say a word of prayer for Kefee.
Charles Novia: Just read on Stella Dimoko’s blog that ‘Kokoroko’ singer, Kefee, is presently in coma in a hospital in the US? Oh God! I pray it’s not true. Let’s all put Kefee in our prayers, no matter what the news is. May God heal a lively and talented singer who inspired many with her art. Kefee, God’s loving and healing hands on you. Amen.
Becca: I just said a prayer for Kefee. Have you? Please do that. We need her back
Darey: Get well soon Kefee. We are all praying and waiting for you
Yung 6ix: If what I heard is true, we all have to pray for Kefee. God will heal her and make her strong
Jaywon: God will take care of Kefee. She will be back and stronger. Pray for Kefee
Toni Payne: Before you lay your head down to sleep please take a moment to say a prayer of healing and restoration for our own Kefee.
Sammie Okposo: God we bring our sister before you, make her whole again.
Nikki Laoye: Good morn tweeps…please say a word of prayer for my sister & friend Kefee today. We declare that she is healed in Jesus name #Pray4Kefee
Buchi: Kefee has been praising God and have been using her voice for God. God will not abandon her at this critical time. Kefee will be well again.
Jahdiel: We all need you to pray for our Kefee. She has been reported very sick. Pray for her
Eben: Calling on all of you to help pray for our sister Kefee. May God heal her and also give strength to her husband and family in this trying period.
Alec Godwin: Kefee is reportedly in a coma in a hospital in the US; please re¬member her in your prayers for quick recovery.
Toyin Ibitoye: Kefee, Reports say you need a miracle to come out of coma & remain alive. That miracle happens today in Jesus name.You will live & not die.
Ayo Shonaiya: I don’t believe in miracles, but tonight I pray for one for Kefee. #ToGodsEars
Mercy Johnson: Happy Sunday tweet hearts,in this month of prayer,lets all join hands and pray for ma sister and friend Kefee. lets speak healing to her, IJN.
Sasha: Please remember Kefee in your prayers. May the Lord grant her healing and her family the support they need through this time . Tomorrow is not promised for anyone yet we pray for mercy.
Funke Akindele: We won’t stop praying for her! No! We won’t give up. I know the Almighty healer will touch her. Let’s all keep praying and be positive. I prophesy divine healing for u #kefee in Jesus Name! The good Lord will perform his miracle in ur life and we will not lose u In Jesus name. AMEN! #prayforkefee
1 comment
Kefee needs healing.
She needs healing, healing everywhere and everyday.
She needs healing, healing all over is what she needs
She needs healing, healing in her womb is all she needs
She needs healing, healing in her life is all she needs.
Kefee needs healing, Lord heal her NOW is all I ask.