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From Christy Anyanwu, London
Princess Anne Inyang is a renowned Nigerian gospel singer and composer. Born in Akwa Ibom State, she rose to fame with the release of “Akanam Nkwe” 1996. It was the first Ibibio-language gospel song to achieve mainstream success in Nigeria and gain global recognition.
Princess Anne’s music career spans over three decades. She has released several timeless gospel staples, including Things Are Getting Better, God Cannot Lie, My Helper, You Are Worthy Lord, and Floodgates, among others.
These songs have become cherished anthems in churches and concert halls worldwide, cementing her legacy as a trailblazer in Nigerian gospel music.
Beyond music, Princess Anne is committed to humanitarian work through her St. Anne’s Care Foundation, which provides support for underserved communities in Nigeria and Canada. She spoke with Sunday Sun from her base in Canada.
You weren’t much seen in Nigeria circles for sometime now. What has been keeping you so busy lately and what’s your new world?
I have been away from Nigeria for some years now. First, I was living in Dallas, Texas, USA but had to move to Canada six years ago. People think that living abroad is a bed of roses, it’s not. If you do not have a good plan, life could turn out to be frustrating because no matter how educated you were back home in Nigeria, you would have to start afresh from step one, then move up. I had to go back to school and study in order to get a good job.
I’m glad I have moved up and my music ministry too has as well.
I have featured in Black History months events in Detroit, Michigan and in Canada too and numerous church programmes. I have visited about 32 states in the USA for different church events, either to sing or preach.
I recently also came home to host a charity concert tagged “SOAR”.
Have you released new songs?
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Oh yes! I have released several new songs, even during the COVID years. One of them was a song dedicated to Nigeria- titled, OUR HELPER. It’s an adaptation from my classic hit song “MY HELPER”. I had another one in 2023 – My Thanksgiving and very recently “YOU’RE THE SUNSHINE “ available on Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, Deezer, YouTube etc . This was released on the 30th August 2025.
You were one of the leading choir members in TREM and later, The Music Director of Evangel Voices TREM. What would you say about Bishop Mike Okonkwo at 80 and how has his ministry impacted you as a person?
I was a secular singer before I had an encounter with the Lord at my teenage years and the confusion and fear of that encounter was what led me to TREM. The first person I met who later explained the vision and encounter to me was Big Daddy, Bishop Mike Okonkwo.
He was my mentor, real father figure, disciplinarian and teacher. The discipline I have in my life today is as a result of being under his tutelage. Bishop Mike is one of the few men of God who is a genuine Christian. You don’t hear him get involved with occultism or any scandal.
He has a very strong personality and as a child, I used to be afraid of him because he hardly smiled and would discipline you if you did something wrong. In those days, when I heard his footsteps coming towards me, I would run. Because me too, I was stubborn. When they said, women should not wear trousers, I used to sneak behind and wear. One day, he caught me with it on Broad Street, Lagos as I was waiting for a bus. I saw an SUV reverse to where I stood and the back windows wound down to reveal the Bishop. I was so shocked to see him that I ran for my dear life. That was when TREM was like an S.U church. The brothers used to sit separately and sisters separately in church.
But truth be told, TREM had the best church music in Nigeria in those days (80s, 90s and 2000s), take it from me. The reason was because Bishop was personally involved in the choice of music, he knew whose voice could sing a particular song with good delivery. He could do that because he himself used to be a musician before he became an evangelist. He played the guitar and keyboard (I believe he can still play those instruments). TREM also influenced my desire to go into music full time.
Apart from the choir, I served under his ministry as a volunteer, helping with the administrative jobs and working as his PA, handling his correspondence, transcribing his preaching tapes, and turning them into books This was when I discovered that he actually was very tender-hearted and kind.
What lessons have you learned about life?
I have learned that life is short and the years pass quickly. So, whatever you want to do, do not procrastinate. Life will not wait for you. Just do it. That has been my mantra for two years now.
What is style to you and what influences your dress sense?
Style to me is anything I am comfortable in and my choice depends on the occasion.
If there is anything like reincarnation, what would you like to do differently?
I don’t know o. I don’t believe in reincarnation.
