Audu Maikori, founder of the popular record label, Chocolate City, has mourned actress Rachel Bakam, who died at age 38.
The actress who doubled as a television presenter passed away after a brief illness at a private hospital in Abuja, Nigeria.
Maikori described the deceased as a positive woman that was always clear about her goals. “Rachel was a very inspiring woman, sister and mother- always had a smile, always positive and very very clear about her goals. I met her probably 17 years ago in Kaduna through a mutual friend and later on with her then husband Israel Edjeren,” he wrote.
“More recently, we were in the same Kaduna Creative group where we mentor, support and share opportunities for empowerment – and she was always very active , passionate about any project concerning Southern Kaduna and Kaduna state as a whole- but with a keen focus on helping the less privileged and the displaced refugees across the country.
“The lady was always so busy I even used to wonder when she ever got to rest with her packed schedule!
“There have been quite a few deaths recently, but this one hit me hard!!! It hit us all very very hard cos we lost a true gem, the space she occupied, not many can fill today because she had a special flair about what she did and that flair was driven by her passion for her people. She will be dearly missed by us all.”
Confirming the death of Rachel, her brother, Armstrong Bakam, told the press that she died at around 12 pm on Tuesday, April 14, 2021.
“She had anaemia; so, she was taken to the hospital on Friday and she died this afternoon at about 12pm. I was not with her when she died, but her mother was by her side. Before Friday, she fell ill and was admitted for some days, but she was discharged and taken home. However, she was returned to the hospital on Friday,” Armstrong told Punch.
“We will really miss her because her death is a shocking and devastating news to the family. In fact, the whole family is actually troubled and quite a number of people are yet to believe that it is actually true,” he added.
Rachel Bakam was the media consultant for the Performing Musician Employers Association (PMAN) until her demise.