One Rex Ekiugbo Anighoro, a friend of late gospel singer, Kefee Don Momoh, has blamed himself for not taking care of her graveside.
The ‘kokoroko’ and ‘Branama’ singer died of lung failure in an American hospital on June 12, 2014 . She collapsed mid-air on a flight to Chicago for a performance and slipped into coma two weeks before her death.
Taking to Facebook on Thursday, July 29, after visiting the late singer’s graveside in Ughelli, Ethiope Local Government Area of Delta State, Anighoro castigated himself for having not laid a wreath since she was buried seven years ago.
Anighoro said Kefee’s final resting place is now bushy and in need of urgent clearing. He also disclosed that he intends to visit her family soon and seek their permission to clear the graveside.
He wrote:
I AM GUILTY! EVEN IN DEATH KEFEE MUST NEVER BE FORGOTTEN!!
Today I am quite sad! I am sad because I feel I have betrayed and let down my dear sister and friend the very irrepressible Branama Queen Mrs Irikefe Evelyn Don Momoh nee Obareki musically known as KEFEE.
Earlier today, I visited Ovu community in Ethiope East Local Government Area as I was driving to Ughelli, I passed through Okpara Inland and then I remembered that this was Kefee’s community. I decided to come down by the roadside as I still can identify the place where Kefee was laid to rest. Sadly, the place has become so bushy. I felt terrible, I felt so empty, Kefee would be so sad to see that even me could not be there for her, what a shame.
I have been lost in thoughts because I know no matter how busy I could have been, I could have done better for a dear friend who was always there for us when we needed her. I could have been there for her parents, if nothing visiting them periodically, I could have been holding at least biennially a remembrance event/concert in honor of her memory.
To make it worse I have not gone to her graveside to lay a wreath since we buried her over seven years ago. I abandoned even her final resting place which sadly is now bushy and does needs urgent clearing and respectability
As a friend I hold that I am guilty, I failed. I do not judge others I only judge myself as an elder brother she looked up to.
I have asked her for forgiveness and I sincerely hope I will be forgiven even as I try to make a change. In a few days from now I will visit her family and also seek their permission to clear and clean the place and make it more respectable resting place.
Yes Kefee died 12th of June 2014 and was buried 11th of July 2014 to some it is long time now to others it is just yesterday, no matter what your view on this is, I don’t think it is right for me/us to neglect and forget Kefee, NO!NEVER! Her songs still blesses us and her impact remains a livewire.
For all of us who loved or claim to love Kefee, I think we can do much better in honouring her one way or the other, we can change this sad commentary and narratives . We can begin by cleaning her final resting place and reaching out to her parents and siblings EVEN IN DEATH KEFEE MUST NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. She will forever be the Branama Queen.