Award-winning gospel artiste, Kefee Obareki (popularly known as Kefee), passed on in the early hours of Friday, 15 days after she slipped into a coma after collapsing on a flight from Los Angeles to Chicago, United States of America.
The singer, who was reportedly pregnant, slumped while on a flight to Chicago, where she was working on some videos, among, other things. The plane had to make an emergency landing in Los Angeles and she was rushed into the Intensive Care Unit of an undisclosed hospital.
An official statement released by her United Kingdom manager, Adeline Adebayo, reads: “On behalf of the family, it is with great sadness but grateful hearts that we announce the passing to glory due to lungs failure this morning of our God’s mouthpiece, 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. “A friend of the singer’s husband, media personality Teddy Don Momoh confirmed the news on his radio show, saying “One of our very own is dead. May her soul rest in peace.”
Kefee’s death came in on the day veteran filmmaker, Amaka Igwe, was buried. Until her death, she lived with her husband in the United States; pursued courses in video production and directing and managed her restaurant, Branama Kitchen, which was launched in 2012 in Lagos. This project did not last long though, as the restaurant was shut down a few months after it was opened.
Kefee’s childhood
Kefee started singing in the church choir at the age of eight and met Alec Godwin (her ex-husband). They formed a group and came to Lagos to settle down. They got married and Kefee released an album with the hit single, Branama, a song that pivoted her to instant fame and sold millions of copies.
Kefee, according to her mother, Mrs Obareki, at a celebrity show organised for mothers in 2012, reportedly went into coma when she was a child and did not wake up until after six days.
In her recollection of the trials and tribulations of the past, which combined to make Kefee a strong personality and a musical force, the older Obareki recalled that she went through a lot raising the late singer and her other siblings.
“Kefee almost lost her life years back while growing up. As a devout Christian, the family was to fast every Friday. Then, one day, Kefee slumped and was unconscious for six days,” she recalled.
Considering the fact that she had lost a child before, Mrs Obareki could not bear the pain of losing another one, and definitely not Kefee.
“I would roll on the ground, crying and praying that God should restore my child to good health,” Mrs Obareki told Supermom Celebrity Show.
Marriage crash
In 2008, Kefee’s marriage came crashing after Alec Godwin accused her of infidelity, and Kefee accused her husband of battery her. It eventually became a messy affair, which affected the musician’s career as Alec was also her husband and producer, as well as her song writer.
Net Ng reports that after walking out of her marriage to Alec Godwin, the gospel act seemed stuck with the success of her debut hit Branama. Dozens of remixes after, she was still planning on further remixes, with no sure sign that she and her minders had any plans of moving beyond the Branamania.
Her ratings dipped and income dwindled. And with the label, Alec’s Music, not making things happen for other signees – Segun Obe, James Munour, Gordons and Dude Tetsola, it looked like Kefee’s career had reached an abrupt halt.
With her marriage went her record deal and A&R direction. The result? Kefee got her groove back! Back on top of the game, despite not having any proper label structure behind her. All it took was the hit, Kokoroko, produced by K-Solo. With a cameo from Timaya and a brilliant video shot by Wudi Awa, it took just one single to launch the singer back into the A-league. She later married her friend and radio presenter, Edosa, in 2012 after a few months of courting him.
Her businesses
Asides going for mega shows in and out of the country, On Sunday, February 5, 2012, Kefee celebrated the grand opening of her restaurant called Branama Kitchen, with stars including Kel, Lami, J Martins, Nikki Laoye, Ochuko Gordons, Elenu, Uti Nwachukwu, Alex Ekubo, Susan Peters, comedienne Princess, ArtQuake, Helen Paul, Mister Raw, TY-Mix, and Toni Payne in attendance.
Just a year after, she went to the United States with her husband, Edosa, to pursue a course in Film Directing.
Shortly before her death, Kefee told Saturday Tribune that she was back in Nigeria for good, and recording an album with greater visuals since she was now a degree holder in film production and directing.
Celebrities, stars mourn
Nollywood actors and musicians have since turned to social media to mourn Kefee’s death. Wunmi Obe said “Hmm, Kefee Obareki Don-Momoh ... Na so..? Just like that..?? You’re gone too soon. RIP, beautiful child of God. It is well.”
Rapper Sasha wrote: “Now you are looking at heaven.....Teach us Lord, to number our days. Rest in peace Kefee, God knows best.”
Also, controversial singer, Maheeda, mourned: “Live while you can! Enjoy life! Be you! Forget all the stress of this world; they will not go with you! RIP Kefee.”
Yemi Alade also tweeted “RIP Kefee. You came, you saw, you lived,” as Dare Art Alade also tweeted, “OMG! Kefee, please Lord.”
Rita Dominic took to Instagram to say, “This is just sad. R. I. P Kefee. Only God knows best!”
Dance Queen, Kaffy, only managed to write: “RIP Kefee.”
“Last thing she said to me over the phone was ‘You’re too much o. I hail.’ God why? I’m so sorry, yet to record my verse on your feature you sent over,” Cynthia Morgan wrote, as she recalled that she was meant to record a song together with the late songbird. She also stated that she always loved the songs of the Kokoroko crooner.
Toke Makinwa, also wrote on Twitter, “Just heard the news of the passing of Kefee. May heaven receive her soul. May God guard, guide and comfort the loved ones she left behind.”
Doris Simeon said through a text message it is so sad to hear that a friend passed on just like that. She was indeed a talent and a rare gem, we discussed severally on when I was going to visit her restaurant whenever she comes back from the US, only God knows why and He loves you more but we do love you Kefee.
Tribune
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