Evi Edna Ogholi

Evi Edna Ogholi
Background information
Also known asAfrica's Queen of Reggae
Born (1966-07-06) 6 July 1966 (age 58)
Isoko, Delta State, Nigeria
OriginNigerian
GenresReggae
OccupationMusician
Years active(1987–present)
LabelsEnorecords LLC
Websitehttps://enorecordsllc.com

Evi Edna Ogholi (born 6 July 1966).[1] is a Nigerian female reggae musician popular for her song "Happy Birthday".[2][3]

Early life

Ogholi was born on 6 July 1966 in Isoko, Delta State (then Midwest Region) to the household of Reverend R. O. Ogholirly.[4][5] She married her producer and manager Emma Ogosi, and they had two children. The couple later separated, with Ogholi moving to Paris shortly after.[2]

Career

Ogholi released her debut album My Kind of Music in 1987. Emma Ogosi was her manager and producer. Her popular hits are "Happy Birthday", "Oghene Me", and "Look Before You Cross".[6][2] After a long vacation from the music scene Ogholi unveiled her plans to resume to entertain her fans, during her interview with BBC Pidgin and Splash 105.5 FM Ibadan.

APCN humanitarian awards

In 2020, she was honored and endorsed as the brand Ambassador of Hope and Peace to Aid People Change Nigeria Charity and Orphanage Organisation in Nigeria and Ireland to host Nigeria and Ireland largest humanitarian 12th edition award event.[7][8][2]

Other names

Ogholi earned the recognition 'Queen of Nigeria reggae'[9][10] firstly from a Nigerian reggae music legend blessed memory of Majek Fashek to later be known globally with her act. She told BBC Pidgin during her interview that her reggae wristband was a gift from Majek Fashek to her, after they finished recording with their band in a studio section in Lagos. She was later known for other names like 'Africa's Queen Of Reggae', a nickname she earned from fans in west Africa, after she released three albums that went platinum.[11][2]

Endorsement

Ogholi was an ambassador for Pepsi in 1990, and featured in a commercial for the brand with Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Charly Boy, and Femi Kuti.[12][2]

Controversy

After Ogholi left the Nigerian music scene in 1990 she volunteered for UNICEF in France for almost nineteen years. Rumors circulated on Instagram, Facebook and blogs that she had died were dispelled in 2020 and Nigerian national journalists contacted her for a press release.[13][2]

Record deal

In 2020 she signed a five-year record deal[14][2] with Enorecords owned by Nigeria reggae singer Winning Jah. In August 2020, she released an EP under the imprint, titled Peace and Love which included a remix of her most popular song 'Happy Birthday'. The EP was produced, mixed and mastered by the label's in-house producer Ayemere Joshua, commonly known by his stage name 'Jossy Joe'.[15][2]

Discography

  • My Kind Of Music (LP, Album) Polydor POLP 157 1987
  • On The Move Polydor 1988
  • Happy Birthday (LP, Album) Polydor POLP 197 1988[16]
  • No Place Like Home Polydor 1989
  • Bursting Loose (LP, Album) Margenta (2) MGTLP 001 1990
  • Step By Step (LP, Album) Polydor POLP 247 1990
  • Peace and Love (LP,Album) Enorecords LLC 2020[17][2]

Legacy

Today, Ogholi's legacy is seen to have "had a lasting impact on Nigerian music", as she is considered as "inspiring a new generation of artists and bringing the essence of Isoko culture into mainstream Nigerian music".[18]

See also

References

  1. ^ "I was born in 1970 – Evi Edna Ogholi". Obaland Magazine. 16 December 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2020.[dead link‍]
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j From France, Evi-Edna Ogholi rocks with peace and love, guardian.ng, 16 April 2017.
  3. ^ Kehinde Oluleye, Kehinde (30 May 2020). "Yesterday stars: Where are they now?(1)". Yesterday stars: Where are they now?(1). The Nation. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  4. ^ Sisterly (10 September 2021). "Female Pioneers in the Nigerian Music Industry: Unsung Heroes". Sisterly HQ. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  5. ^ Ihua, Bell’ (6 September 2008). "Where On Earth Is Evi-Edna Ogholi Ogosi?". iNigerian.com. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Evi Edna left 'cos of our dwindled fortune". Vanguard. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  7. ^ "APCN HUMANITARIAN AWARDS ONLINE 2020 VOTING CLOSED -EVI EDNA OGHOLI". Aid People Change Naija. 30 November 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  8. ^ "apcn humanitarian awards 2020 to announce winners". Vanguard. 3 December 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  9. ^ Colin Larkin, ed. (2006). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4 ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 1009. ISBN 9780195313734.
  10. ^ "Oxford reference - Evi Edna Ogholi". Oxford University Press. 2009.
  11. ^ "From France Evi Edna rocks with Peace and Love". The Guardian (Nigeria). 16 April 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
  12. ^ Huey, Steve. "Biography of Evi Edna Ogholi". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 April 2010.
  13. ^ "Veteran musician Evi Edna Ogholi is alive – Winning Jah". Leadership. 28 May 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  14. ^ "Breaking news- Africa most popular birthday song is set for remix by Evi Edna Ogholi". Obaland Magazine. 29 July 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  15. ^ "Evi Edna Ogholi set for new album". The Nation (Nigeria). 4 August 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  16. ^ "Evi-Edna Ogholi".
  17. ^ "Peace and Love (EP)". Musicbrainz. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  18. ^ "Evi Edna Ogholi, Reggae Musician". Isoko.com.ng. Archived from the original on 7 December 2024. Retrieved 7 December 2024. Ogholi's legacy has had a lasting impact on Nigerian music, inspiring a new generation of artists and bringing the essence of Isoko culture into mainstream Nigerian music.