It was a gathering of the business and entertainment personalities on Monday, June 9 at the Archbishop Vining Cathedral, where a Service of Songs was held in honour of late movie maker, Amaka Igwe.
The ceremony which kicked off at about 6pm with a rendition of the hymn, All Hail the Power of Jesus Name, featured exhortations, worship songs and tributes from fasn and associates of the deceased.
Compeered by the duo of Richard Mofe-Damijo and Ireti Doyle, tributes were given by Ego Boyo, Kunle Bamtefa, Gabriel Okoye and Mrs. Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, all of the movie industry, while Mr. Dewunmi Ogunsanya, Mrs. Bernard-Oti and Mrs. Thelma Utigwe-Oti paid tributes on behalf of the business sector.
It was a particularly emotional moment for all present, as the first child of the filmmaker, Ruby Igwe, delivered a touching tribute to her mother. “We are all here this evening grieving Amaka Igwe who we love and we are inspired, influenced or maybe intimidated by. I also know that there are many here who she, by God’s grace, mothered, trained and raised. I am sure you would agree that our mother had a unique spirit. Her priorities make her seem infuriatingly odd because they were so good. However, she left this earth as one of the most successful people I have ever known,” Ruby stated.
Describing her mother as a professional who touched several lives, Ruby noted that the late deceased never considered herself to be a know-it-all, even as she never sold herself short. In her words, Amaka’s contributions to the creative industry were indeed of a much bigger picture. “She received a passion and talent from God. She utilised it, became an expert and did not hesitate to share her expertise. How she spread her wealth of knowledge is baffling.
“I don’t know the specifics really, but I do know that in this life, we would be fine. It is still well. Even in this loss, this great, great loss, we will all be phoenixes in that in this death, in this separation from Amaka Igwe, we would rise, we would learn, we would be inspired and influenced. The work she has done, we would do. We remember to never forget that it is possible to miss a mum while still making memories,” Ruby said in tears.
The service which featured a musical presentation by Waje, was graced by the presence of John Ugbe, Tony Abulu, Ufuoma Ejenebor, Kate Henshaw, Teju Babyface, Tee A, Keppy Ekpenyong Bassey, Tunde Kelani, Kanayo O Kanayo and a host of others.
The late Nollywood filmmaker will be buried on June 13, in Ndiuche Arondizuogu, Imo State. Another Service of Songs has been scheduled for June 12, at the Michael Okpara Square, Enugu.
Igwe, 51, died on April 28 from complications resulting from asthma attack.
