Evelyn Irikefe Don Momoh (February 5, 1980 – June 12, 2014), also referred to by her stage name Kefee, was a Nigerian gospel singer and composer.

Kefee
Background information
Born(1980-02-05)February 5, 1980
Sapele, Delta, Nigeria
DiedJune 12, 2014(2014-06-12) (aged 34)
Los Angeles, California, United States
GenresGospel
OccupationSinger
Years active2000–2014

Early life

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She was born in Sapele, Delta on February 5, 1980[1][2] to the family of Andrew Obareki, who were at a time deacons at a church founded by the parents of her ex-husband Alec Godwin. Kefee graduated from University of Benin with a degree in Business Administration. As a teenager, she actively engaged herself in church activities, especially singing in the choir.[3]

Career

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As her passion for music kept growing bigger, she started writing and composing songs. In 2000 she released an album titled "Trip" that made her way into the Nigerian music scene as a Gospel artist. In 2003, she got signed to Alec's Entertainment, a record label founded by her former choir director, and she released her debut studio album Branama shortly after that. Branama sold nine thousand cassettes in three weeks and over two million CD/VCDs in a month.[4] It served as a starting point for her successful career as a Nigerian gospel artist. Her best known hits are "Branama" and "Kokoroko".[3]

Awards

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She was awarded the International Young Ambassador for Peace Award in 2009.[5] Kefee won the 2010 Headies Awards for Best Collaboration with Timaya for "Kokoroko".

Private life

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Kefee was married twice. She was married to Alec Godwin for three years until 2008.[6] She married radio host Teddy Esosa Don-Momoh on 3 March 2013 in Sapele, Delta state.[7][8]

Death and burial

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Though the cause of death was rumoured to be pre-eclampsia, Kefee Obareki Don Momoh died of lung failure at a hospital in Los Angeles, California on June 12, 2014.[9][10][11] She had been in a coma for fifteen days.[11]

She was buried on Friday July 11, 2014 in her hometown Okpara Inland, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria.[12]

Discography

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Studio albums
EPs
  • Dan Maliyo (2012)
Posthumous albums
  • Beautiful (2015)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Kefee to be buried July 11". Premium Times. July 3, 2014. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  2. ^ Ezeh, Maryjane (February 5, 2015). "Kefee Comes Alive Today At Her First Memorial Birthday Concert". NigeriaFilms.com. Archived from the original on July 7, 2015. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  3. ^ a b Erhariefe, Tony Ogaga; Chima, Nkechi (June 14, 2014). "How music star, Kefee died". The Sun. Archived from the original on September 9, 2015. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  4. ^ "Kefee". afrobios.com. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  5. ^ "Kefee becomes UN Peace Ambassador". NigeriaFilms.com. February 17, 2009. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
  6. ^ Osagie Alonge (30 January 2012). "Kefee's Ex-Husband Alec Godwin Remarries". Nigerian Entertainment Today. Thenet.ng. Archived from the original on 29 July 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
  7. ^ Osagie Alonge (4 March 2012). "Shocking!!! Kefee Weds Star FM's Teddy Esosa". Nigerian Entertainment Today. Thenet.ng. Archived from the original on 23 June 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
  8. ^ Osagie Alonge (5 June 2014). "Kefee's husband confirms singer is in coma". Nigerian Entertainment Today. Thenet.ng. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
  9. ^ "Gospel singer, Kefee is Dead". The Nigerian Voice.
  10. ^ "Nigerian gospel singer Kefee dies". BBC News – Africa. BBC. 13 June 2014.
  11. ^ a b Osagie Alonge. "Kefee dies after 15 days in coma". Nigerian Entertainment Today. Thenet.ng. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2014-06-16.
  12. ^ "Adieu Kefee...Emotional Photos as Gospel Singer is Laid to Rest in Sapele". Bella Naija. 12 July 2014.
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