Nigerian gospel artiste, Esther Igbekele is in mourning following the death of her mother, Mary Amope Igbekele, popularly addressed as JP within her circle.

The singer broke the news to fans and followers in an emotional post shared on Instagram, describing her grief in stark terms as she announced that death had taken away the woman she often referred to as her gold. The tribute reflected the closeness between mother and daughter, a bond that had frequently featured in Esther’s public celebrations of family milestones.

The passing comes only months after the family marked a joyful occasion together, when Mary Amope Igbekele turned 70 and celebrated her wedding anniversary on the same day, a double celebration that Esther had publicly honoured with tributes describing her mother as her golden mother and role model.

That contrast between recent celebration and sudden loss has amplified the outpouring of sympathy that has followed the announcement.

Esther has not disclosed the cause of her mother’s death, nor has she announced any funeral arrangements at this stage. Condolence messages have continued to pour in from fans, colleagues in the gospel music industry, and well-wishers who have taken to social media to console the singer during this period of grief.