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Tega Halle Apochi captured the attention of viewers and judges at MTN Project Fame season 5, Star Quest and Nigerian Idol season 2 in 2012 in a remarkable way with her distinct vocal range and avant-garde look.
In one year she was on all the major music talent shows in Nigeria.
During her Nigerian Idol season 2 audition, she had a unique look that earned her the moniker Grace Jones from judges – Charly Boy, Yinka Davies and Jeffrey Daniel,
Grace Jones is a Jamaican-American singer and actress. The New York Times said she cemented her place in pop culture with her unmistakable look – flat top hair and Egyptian-cyborg outfits (when she wasn’t nude).
Like the 73-year-old Grace Jones, Tega was a style icon and avant-garde rocker. But Tega was neither savage nor blasphemous like Jones.
Her husband, Rhema Akpofure, described her as “a beautiful soul and an amazing person.”
Many viewers will remember Tega as the contestant with a voice that could open the gates of heaven as Christians believe a good voice lifted in praise to God would do.
Exactly 10 years after hitting the TV screen in January 2012, as an up-and-coming music star, Tega’s death was announced by her friends on Thursday, January 6, 2022.
“You were just too perfect for me; you helped shield my errors,” Rhema Akpofure, her husband, wrote. “You looked straight into my eyes as you left, my heart is heavy, and my eyes filled with tears. Sweetest girl always.”
One of Akpofure’s Instagram posts also suggests that Tega was expecting a set of twins before her death. “We were both patiently waiting for the boys to show,” Akpofure wrote.
Netng could not immediately confirm multiple reports on social media claiming she died during childbirth.
Tega, her twin brother Tejiri and 11 siblings, including Efetobor Apochi, a boxing champion and Von Apochi, a Gulder Ultimate Search star, were raised under Christian values by their parents Engr Isaac Apochi of Shell Petroleum Development Company, who died in December 2016 and Mercy Apochi.
In several posts on her Facebook page from 2011 seen by Netng, she shared memories of her childhood in Ughelli, Delta State, where she was born on October 19, over three decades ago, as part of a prominent Baptist family.
A dedicated Christian passionate about Church assignments, her digital footprints from her days at the University of Port Harcourt revealed she was passionately involved in evangelism activities.
In 2012, Tega competed in the three biggest music talent shows in Nigeria at that time – MTN Project Fame, Nigerian Idol and Star Quest. And she shone on the three shows even though she didn’t win.
“Though I didn’t make it to the Top 12, it doesn’t stop me from being a superstar and a winner,” Tega wrote on Facebook on February 2, 2012, after her eviction from Nigerian Idol 2, which gospel music star Mercy Chinwo won.
A few months after she got evicted from Nigerian Idol, she was one of the 36 contestants on Star Quest in April 2012. Her band on the music talent show – Quantum Vibes was the first runner-up at Star Quest 2012.
In September 2012, Tega and other members of Quantum Vibes debuted their first set of singles produced by popular beatmaker MasterKraft.
After finishing in second place with the Quantum Vibes at Star Quest, Tega auditioned for MTN Project Fame and was admitted into the Academy in August 2012, but she was one of the first two contestants to be evicted from the show.
During her time on the three music talent shows, she was a final year student studying Animal Science and Fishery at the University of Port Harcourt in Rivers State.
In a Facebook post from January 28, 2012, where she wrote about her eviction from Nigerian Idol, Tega said, “I grew up from a challenging background, I love music, I love people. I was selected to represent all those that have dreams in life on the Idol. I represent the tomato seller, the mechanics, the vulcanizers, the businessmen and women, the bankers, the brokers, factory workers and farmers. I represent Nigeria.”
On Nigerian Idol, Star Quest and MTN Project Fame, she was an object of fascination for designers and fans with her unique style.
In July 2019, she got married to Rhema Akpofure.
Like many music stars, Tega’s strong love for music started in the church, and until her death, she was a member of ‘The Gratitude COZA’, a musical group in the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly, Abuja.
Details of her death are still sketchy, but controversies continue to trail her death on the internet following multiple posts from one of her friends, Nnenna Kalu-Ude, a former Choir leader at COZA. She shared a series of social media posts attacking COZA and its Pastor, Biodun Fatoyinbo, a controversy magnet.
She accused Fatoyinbo of maltreating his church workers and also suppressing critics.
“Dearest Tega, your death was so unnecessary, but it will not go unpunished. I’m so broken,” Kalu-Ude wrote in a series of posts on her Instagram story on Thursday, January 6, 2022.
“Biodun Fatoyinbo, you know I know you. I know you more than you think you do, and I’ve never seen such cruelty. People have lost their faith in God because of you. For so long, you have gotten away with evil, but this one will not escape you.”
Netng sent a message to Kalu-Ude on Friday, January 7, 2022, seeking clarifications on some of her accusations; she’s yet to respond.
Fatoyinbo is not new to controversies. From 2013 when he was first publicly accused of sexual misconduct by a former protocol officer of his church Ese Walters, to 2019, when he was accused of rape by Busola Dakolo, wife of singer Timi Dakolo, he has been embroiled in a series of sexual-related scandals with female church members, but he often gets away with the philandering and rape allegations against him.In a new video released on Friday night, Tega’s husband has asked the public to disregard the accusations against Fatoyinbo, asking those who have issues with the pastor to stop mentioning his late wife’s name in their stories.
“My wife passing is as a result of something, and it’s personal. It’s not the business of the public,” Akpofure said. “She served faithfully and enjoyed her time while it lasted.”
The Gratitude COZA’s official line was unavailable when a Netng correspondent called multiple times. The music group is also yet to respond to an email from Netng.
Tega’s friends and family members did not respond to Netng’s request for comment.
Tega is survived by her husband, mother and siblings.
Her heartbroken brother Efetobor, a boxing champion, in his tribute, wrote, “You will forever remain in my heart even though you broke it.”
The post Obituary: Tega Apochi – MTN Project Fame And Nigerian Idol Star Whose Death Sparked New Wave Of Controversy About COZA appeared first on Nigerian Entertainment Today.
Source: TheNet
