Across the world, it is another season of love as St Valentine’s day is being celebrated in an atmosphere of love, sharing and happiness.
But among friends, family and colleagues of late Susan Oluwabimpe Filani, it will be a day for them to recall once more the sad, shocking and untimely death of their daughter, wife and friend, known to us all as Goldie Harvey, who passed away on Thursday, February 14, 2013, exactly three years ago today about 8 months short of her 32nd birthday.
Goldie was full of life and had just returned from attending the 55th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles when she suddenly slumped and died without warning. She only complained of a slight headache and was immediately rushed to the hospital and a few hours later, at 10pm to be precise, she was pronounced dead at Reddington Hospital, Victoria Island.
An autopsy into the real cause of her death revealed that the singer suffered from deep vein thrombosis, resulting from pulmonary embolism — a sudden blockage of the lung artery which was said to have occurred as a result of the long 12-hour flight from the United States to Lagos.
Two weeks after her death, the late pop singer was laid to rest on Monday, February 25, 2013 at the Vaults and Gardens, Ikoyi, Lagos Island. Family members, colleagues and friends gathered as the late singer was laid to rest. In attendance were the likes of eLDee, Kenny and ID Ogungbe, her then label mates including Capital FEMI, Joe-EL and Jaywon and others like Tiwa Savage, Dele Momodu, OJB Jezreel, Gbenga Adeyinka and many others.
A number of times, the question about what Goldie would have become if she was still alive comes up. But no matter what opinion one has, what remains incontestable is that Goldie was a dedicated, resolute, ambitious and talented music star who achieved a number of feats before her untimely death even though she was hardly really given a chance.
At the pace she was going before her sudden death, it’s safe to say Goldie would have gone international. For those who knew her or had the priviledge of seeing her perform, Goldie Susan Harvey was a terrific entertainer who passionately strived for years to attain her dreams, not minding the criticisms that came her way.
She grew up in a family that made sure her life revolved around church activities, yet against all odds and the wishes of her strict father, she found herself gravitating towards secular entertainment. With the encouragement of Cool FM’s Manny, she launched a music career and in less than five years had made a mark on the Nigerian music industry.
Her bold and colourful videos, exuberant personality and animated performances were just a few of the unique traits that propelled her to the apex of her career and cemented her position as a true pop-diva. Goldie exuded a personality that sometimes hovered between stark eccentricity and extraordinary creativity, factors that endeared many to her.
On the personal front, late Goldie Harvey, unknown to many when she was alive, was married to Andrew Harvey who has since remarried. Andrew re-married on August 3, 2013 as he walked down the aisle with a Malaysia-based Filipino woman named Beth Buenaventura.
Three years after, Goldie lives on and the Nigerian music industry surely misses her pizzazz, creativity, and resourcefulness.
<<Print>>