CHRISTY ESSIEN IGBOKWE (It's One year today)

It is exactly a year when Nigeria's most successful Female artist passed away after a brief illness in Lagos, Nigeria can never forget the lady that brought so much joy to us with her acting and music. The family of the late songstress have decided to have a solemn memorial during the Sunday service at the Archbishop Vining Memorial Church Cathedral, Oba Akinjobi Way, G. R. A, Ikeja, Lagos on Sunday - July 1, 2012. She will be remembered forever in our hearts.

PROFILE (CV) OF THE LADY OF SONGS
NAME: Chief Dr (Mrs.) Christy Essien Igbokwe, MFR, FICA
STAGE NAMES: Christy Essien; Akpena; Lady of Songs
DATE OF BIRTH: November 11, 1960
ZODIAC SIGN: Scorpio
PLACE OF BIRTH: Okat, Onna LGA, Akwa Ibom State
FIRST MUSIC OUTING: Now Sound TV Programme on NTA, Aba (1976)
FIRST ACTING OUTING: New Masquerade TV Programme on NTA Aba (1976)
EARLY MUSICAL EFFORTS: At age 7; started dancing with drama groups in schools
MARITAL STATUS: Married at 19 to Chief Edwin Igbokwe (then General Manager of PUNCH newspapers). They have four children, all male.
HIT ALBUMS
1. Freedom - 1976
2. Patience - 1977
3. Time Waits For No One - 1978
4. One Understanding - 1979
5. Give Me A Chance - 1980
6. Ever Liked My Person - 1981
7. Taking My Time - 1986
8. It Is Time - 1988
9. Hear The Call - 1990
10. Mysteries Of Life - 1994



INTERNATIONAL AWARDS
1. “Silver Prize” Winner at 6th Seoul Songs Festival, South Korea – 1983
2. “Grand Prix “ Winner at Neewollah Music Festival at Independence, Kansas, USA – 1983
3. “International Special Achievement” Award of MUSEXPO, Acapulco, Mexico, 1983
4. “Certificate of Merit” Award for Song writing and composing at the 10th Annual American Songs Festival, Los Angeles, USA – 1983
5. “Audience Favourite” Award of International Music Festival at Baker University, USA – 1983
6. “Silver Prize” Winner at Second International Music Festival of Oklahoma University, USA – 1983
7. “Outstanding Performance” Award at the World Song Festival, L.A. Arts Academy, USA – 1984
8. “Distant Accord” Award at the FIDOF Festival in Hollywood, L.A., USA, 1990
9. Honorary Doctorate Degree (Honoris Causa) Award in Business Management by Cornerstone University & Theological Seminary, Jerusalem, Israel – 2010
10. Honorary Doctorate Degree (Honoris Causa) Award in Literature-in-Africa by University of Berkley, Chicago, Illinois, USA – 2010
LOCAL AND NATIONAL AWARDS
1. “Lady of Songs” by Nigerian Entertainment Writers – 1980
2. “Star Performer” Award of Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) – 1983
3. “Best Actress Runner-Up” Award for Excellence by silver Jubilee Committee of the Nigerian Television Organization of Nigeria (NTA) – 1984
4. “African Music Mother” Award by Music Extravaganza’84 in collaboration with African Music Development, New York, USA
5. “Adaha Onna” (Pillar of Onna LGA)
6. Akwa Ikwo Eket (The Greatest Singer from Eket Community) by Eket LGA Authority
7. Aha Nwanyi Ejiagamba 1 of Oru Ahiazu, Mbaise, Imo State
8. “Golden Voice of Africa” Award by music Students Association, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife
9. “Gold Award” of 25 Nigerian Celebrities – 1988
10. “Certificate of Honour” by the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Anambra State Council – 1990
11. “Certificate of Recognition” by National Film Festival – 1992
12. “Service to the Music Profession” Award by PMAN on platform of NIGERIAN MUSIC AWARD (to Christy Essien Igbokwe/Edwin Igbokwe) for their efforts in forming and creating PMAN - 1988
13. Special Musical Patents Decoration Award – 1994
14. “Merit Award for Excellence in the Field of Music Therapy” by Medical Association of Nigeria
15. “Award of Honour” by Nigeria Institute of Journalism Student’s Union, Ibadan Campus
16. “Certificate of Honour” in recognition of her role as a woman of substance and her excellent performance in musical entertainment by National Association of Akwa Ibom Students, University of Ibadan chapter.
17. “Grand Fellow of Nigerian Youths” by the Nigerian Youth Organization
18. “Queen of Music International” Award by the Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners, Lagos State and Degbola International Promotions – 1996
19. “Outstanding Achievements Uplifting Female” Award by Youth Re-Orientation Movement – 1996
20. “Merit Award in Honour of Care for the Nigerian Child” by Broadway International School – 2000
21. “Award of Excellence and Outstanding Leadership Qualities” as PMAN first Female President -1998
22. “The Best Dressed Female Musician” Award in the Patriotic Dress category at the Nigeria Fashion Show – 1997
23. “Member of the Greatest Performers” Award in recognition of her immense contribution to the development and reformation of the world youths – 1996
24. “Award of Excellence” as Matron of the Great Eni-Njoku Hall (University of Lagos chapter – 2000
25. “Pacesetter Award” in recognition of her vision, initiator and organizer of the First ECOWAS Cultural and Musical Festival & the Entertainment Award – 1997
26. “Lover of Children” Award in recognition of her contribution towards child social and welfare development in the society – by legendary Page Boys Club (Socio-Cultural & Humanitarian Club)
27. “Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) by Federal Government of Nigeria – 1999
28. “Defender of Children” Award by Interclassic Youth Forum (a non-governmental organization)
29. “Outstanding Achievement in Entertainment Industry” Award by Top Celebrities Magazine -2010
30. “Merit Award for African Heritage” by The Gong African News Magazine - 2010
31. “Honorary Fellowship Award” by Institute of Corporate & Business Affairs Management, Nigeria.
32. “Nigerian Woman of Valor” Award by National Centre for Women Development, Abuja – 2010.
MATRONSHIP/EXTRA CURRICULA POSITIONS
1. Matron; Eni-Njoku Hall, University of Lagos
2. Matron; Akwa Ibom Journalists Forum, Kaduna
3. Matron; National Association of Akwa Ibom Students, University of Port Harcourt
4. Matron; Nigerian Youth Tourist Organization
5. Matron; National Association of Akwa Ibom Students, University of Lagos
6. Matron; Association of Beauty Therapy & Cosmetology of Nigeria, Lagos
7. Matron; Worldwide Twins and Multiple Foundation
8. Deputy Vice President/Vice Chairman, Governing Council of Institute of Corporate and Business Affairs Management, Nigeria.
POSTHUMOUS AWARDS
1. “Entertainment Icon” by West African Women in Leadership Conference (in Ghana) – 2011
2. “Excellence in Outstanding Performance & Hard Work” by National Association of Akwa Ibom State Students (NAAKISS) – University of Lagos Chapter – 2011
3. Top 100 Professionals 2012 – by International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, england
CHARITY PROGRAMMES
Her Charity programmes dated back to 1980 when she started championing the cause of the less privileged in our society especially the Nigerian Child. This is also evidenced in her works such as:
a. Show a Little Bit of Kindness
b. Do You Hear Me Children?
c. Seun Rere
d. Hear the Call
e. Onwegh Ihe Ka Nnwa Na Uwa (Nothing is greater than child)
In fact Royalty from the sales of her past albums remains directed towards charity projects and the needy in our society.
CHARITY AND TOURISM PROJECTS
The Lady of Songs has successfully and single-handedly pursued and executed charity projects in the following States in Nigeria
1. Adamawa State (then Gongola State); where she raised funds used by the State Government to fence, equip, renovate and provide drinkable water and main pump to the State’s only rehabilitation centre (at Jada) for the handicapped.
2. Rivers State; where she raised funds for the Catholic Children’s Home and Psychiatric School.
3. Enugu State (then old Anambra); where she fully equipped refectory for the School of the Blind, Deaf and Dumb, Ogbete, Enugu
4. Plateau Sate; where she raised funds through Command Performances to provide scholarship endowment fund for able-bodied and handicapped children of the State origin.
5. Dedication of all proceeds from her tenth album to Essential Childcare Foundation’s coffer.
6. She has scores of students under her scholarship studying in various institutions within the country (Nigeria).
7. Her Charity work does not stop in Nigeria
a. In Liberia before the civil war, she (considering how popular she was there) was the guest of that country’s government; to raise fund for improvement of the only television organization (then) during President Samuel Doe’s tenure.
b. In Ghana where she was invited to raise fund and also launch potential Tourism in Ghana that is still booming till today. This was in 1994.
ON-GOING CHARITY PROJECT PURSUIT
Christy was engaged in a Child care programme she tagged “Essential Childcare Foundation”. This project kicked off in 1992 with a National Dialogue involving Nigeria’s distinguished Speakers. Today she is tirelessly putting finishing touches towards the establishment of a “Half-Way-Home” – centre for missing and mentally retarded children. For these, a Trust Fund from the Essential Childcare Foundation has already been put in place. The Essential Childcare Foundation was legally registered and launched on April 30, 1994 with eminent personalities as members of the Board of Trustees. They are successful industrialists and professionals – Chief Abdulaziz C. Ude (Chairman), former Information Minister, Chief Tony Momoh (Vice-Chairman), late Dr. Simi Johnson (General Secretary), Dr. Muktar Bello (Auditor), Engineer (Mrs.) Comfort Ponnle (Treasurer), Mrs. Njideka Ezeife, Chief Austin Izagbo, former Chief (Mrs.) Helen Esuene and Chief (Mrs.) Christy Essien Igbokwe (Publicity/Welfare Officer). Now her legacy lives on through her foundation CHRISTY ESSIEN IGBOKWE MEMORIAL FOUNDATION which has been put up to continue her charity works. This foundation will continue her dream of building her HALF WAY HOME, a project which she embarked on b4 her death. This home is going to cater for the physically challenged, mentally disturbed and the abandoned in our society. This foundation hopes to fulfill this dream and go beyond.
SOME OF HER OTHER OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS
1. FORMATION OF PMAN: With her ideas and husband’s support, she recorded the feat as the brain behind the formation of the only recognized national (union) body for musicians in the country aptly called Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN) in 1982. It is meant to cater for the welfare and protection of Nigerian musicians and their rights, nationally and internationally. When the Union was heading for extinction, she was dragged to head it so as to revive her baby. This culminated in her serving as PMAN President for two terms and remains, till date, the only female so far to have headed a trade union in Nigeria.
2. FORMATION OF PMRS (now COSON): She is a founding member of the Performing and Mechanical Rights Society (PMRS) of Nigeria and was the Chairman of the Board for two consecutive terms; becoming the second female to head the Society – after Chief (Mrs.) Keji Okunowo. The society is majorly concerned with the general responsibility of negotiating, collecting and distributing royalties on behalf of musical copyright owners who are mostly its members.
3. ABROGATION OF OFFSHORE/ONSHORE OIL DICHOTOMY: It is on record that what the littoral State in Nigeria are enjoying today is as a result of the abrogation of the obnoxious onshore and offshore oil dichotomy which was made possible by God through Christy’s final push. She mounted campaign of persuasion that saw the regime of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida initiate and abrogate the dichotomy; thereby putting paid to the struggle that lasted decades.
4. SUSTAINED EXISTENCE OF THE FRSC: It was through her interventional effort that the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) remains today as separate entity. When it was planned for scrapping or merging with the Nigeria Police Force, she brought pressure to bear on the federal government and thus the FRSC was spared till today. This again was during the tenure of Military President Ibrahim Babangida.
5. PRIVATE TELEPHONY: It is a fact that granting license for the private telephony started from the regime of late General Sani Abacha. Christy had to intervene by pushing forward the idea that the world is fast changing in telecommunication. The idea came to her when a private telephone company (EMIS) that had its equipment and staff ready approached her with their predicament as a result of license denial. She fought this and thus EMIS became the first privately licensed telecommunication company; others then followed with ease.
HER BUSINESS EMPIRE
This has spanned over years now. She is the Group Managing Director of her family’s group of Companies – Chuduak Limited, Sountrain Entertainment Limited, Chuduak Graphic Machinery Limited, Eagle Graphic Equipment Limited, Chuduak Properties, etc.

What really happened on the day DJ Tee stabbed me – Alvin Osungade

After compressing his thoughts in 140 characters on Twitter yesterday, Tolani Alvin Osungade has gone ahead to write a more explicit recap of what really happened between him and ace music video director, DJ Tee. Here’s the letter he allegedly sent to popular blogger,
My name is Tolani Alvin Osungade, and this is what really happened between Dj Tee and I…… Firstly, the video shoot was suppose to start @ 10am and I was there to support my friend “malcoholic” the owner of the video shoot. He (malcoholic) told to me invite friends (video girls and guys) which I did. The video shoot did not start early because it rained and the location was being cleaned. And due to the fact that the shoot didn’t start on time, people were having refreshments, guys were drinking (including dj tee and his crew). As this was going on, comments were going round that dj tee just insulted some girls I don’t know due to them asking for payment to be in the video and i also heard dj tee was going to call his own people to come and replace them.

Finally, my friends came by 5:30pm, and when they came and saw the set up they made their thoughts known to me that they don’t do videos for free but they were being insulted by some guys I don’t know myself but there was no fight and I did my best to calm them down and they decided to stay. My brother (Dolapo) came by 6pm with his friend, and Dolapo immediately made it clear to me that he didnt like the set up (the environment) as well and was going to leave in a bit. But I told him to stay just to support Malcoholic and he said “the only reason he’s staying was because of me”, and my invited friends also said the same thing because they were all tired of waiting and the video shoot had still not started since 1pm. Finally, the shoot started @ 7:30 and dj tee started calling people to come on set but there was little response due to people being tired from waiting all day then Dj started getting aggressive, his voice was getting louder, I was actually part of the first 5 to go on set and my brother (Dolapo) came along with me without his friend making us 6, few mins later, almost everybody joined. Some minutes later, I saw dolapo’s friend walking away and I asked her where she was going and she only pointed at dj tee and she said he just insulted her and she was leaving, while this was going on, dj tee was lashing out at the people that were not on set yet, in his words “get these bitches out, get these bitches downstairs”, Dolapo’s friend was leaving the set then dj tee asked her what was wrong?

Sincerely speaking, I didn’t hear her response but dj tee was speaking loud so I heard him say “bitch” and people went there to find out what the problem was. I didnt go with them because I was still on set and Kaffy (the dancer) was already coordinating us but I was looking towards that direction. Then I started hearing noise like a fight was going on and people were saying “dj tee leave him” and I also heard “Dolapo go” then I knew it was dj tee and my brother , then I went there. On getting there, the stairs was blocked and I could not see him and just wanted to get there to be sure he was ok and get him out because dj tee was saying “awon eruku mi da” in english “where are my thugs” “don’t let him go, he must not leave this place alive” because he claimed dolapo slapped him so he was saying “do you know who I am, how dare you” and he kept on ranting “I’ll kill you” “don’t let him go, he must not leave here alive” while dj tee was trying to get to him in person. My sister was begging him and telling him “dj tee, he’s my brother, please leave him” and to get his attention, she threw an empty fanta can drink at dj tee then he and his boys looked but paid her no attention.

I struggled my way out finally and I saw Dolapo practically running out and dj tee was chasing him and he instructed them to lock the gate and he then said to his boys “efo igo nibeyen, gbogbo igo ti eba ri, efo, ki e gun” in english “break bottles, find him and stab him” and his boys did as instructed and asked for permission to kill him (Dolapo) and dj tee said “yes, stab him”. Dj tee found him, tried to beat him but he was being held back, then he saw a bottle on the floor, picked up and broke it, dolapo’s female friend saw this and she went to plead with him and he pushed her into a gutter and looked away and was trying to go back to Dolapo with the broken bottle then I started pleading with him and he was shooting me dirty looks and he was saying “ti iwo oba kuro ni waju mi, ma te oju e mole” in english (get out of my way before I hurt you) .Still trying attack Dolapo, I still pleaded with him, then he stabbed my head and just walked away like it was nothing. Soaked in blood, I was still looking for Dolapo but didnt know he had been informed to run because dj tee had broken a bottle and was still looking for him. My sister saw me bleeding and she tried getting me out of the place with help of mr Dele (owner of d location).

As we we’re running out, dj tee and his boys were still coming after us with sticks and bottles and dj tee was still saying “kill him don’t let him go”. We got to the gate and it was locked so they caught up with us, seeing that I was already bleeding, I was ignored and dj tee and his boys then faced my sister (Bolaji) and beat her up. She was pleading and still getting beaten and threatened added that “if she is asked about the incident, she should say I fell on a bottle”Then the mr Dele (owner of the venue) ordered the gatement to open the gate because I had to be rushed to a hospital then we were let out. Dj tee and his boys vandalized a family friends car who came to support as well because he was also pleading with dj tee and his boys to let Dolapo go. I remember dj tee saying “I will kill you, I can do this and get away with it, you are too small to me, do you know who I am in this industry”…

In addition, I am not looking for cheap publicity neither am i trying to slander anybody’s name or image, I am from a very respectable home and background and this is known to all. This is just very painful because people are saying all sorts and nobody has an idea of what i’m going through, I’ve been scared for life whether Dj Tee gets punished for this crime or not, I am not after a pity party but the fact that Dj Tee thinks that he is untouchable and can get away with this is why my family is enraged and will make sure this ends here, and quoting what i wrote on my twitter page earlier “I’ve never been aggressive about anything in my life and neither do I cause trouble, @adetokunbodjtee, you took advantage of my youth, justice will be done” I’m deeply disappointed if this is how someone who calls himself a public figure acts or treats the public.

Lauryn Hill Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion

Lauryn Hill recently made a return to music and the former Fugees frontwoman is now facing three years in prison.
According to TMZ, Hill admitted in a court of law to intentionally failing to file several tax returns in the past decade which can lead to jail time and $75,000 in fines.
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill songstress pled guilty Friday (June 29) to three counts of failure to file tax returns for the years of 2005, 2006 and 2007, during which time she earned more than $1.8 million. When the judge asked Hill if she "intentionally and willingly" failed to file the returns, which is considered a federal crime, she replied, "Yes."
Hill was released on $150,000 bail. Her sentencing hearing is set for November.
In related news, L-Boogie recently penned an open letter to her fans on her Tumblr page in which she explained to her fans why she didn't pay taxes for three years. She wrote:
"I did not deliberately abandon my fans, nor did I deliberately abandon any responsibilities, but I did however put my safety, health and freedom andthe freedom, safety and health of my family first over allother material concerns!I also embraced my right to resist a systemintentionally opposing my right to whole and integral survival.
I conveyed all of this when questioned as to why I did not file taxes during this time period.Obviously, the danger I faced was not accepted as reasonable grounds for deferring my tax payments, as authorities, who despite being told all of this, still chose to pursue action against me, as opposed to finding an alternative solution.
My intention has always been to get this situation rectified. When I was working consistently without being affected by the interferences mentioned above, I filed and paid my taxes.This only stopped when it was necessary to withdraw from society, in order to guarantee the safety and well-being of myself and my family.
As this, and other areas of issue are resolved and set straight, I am able to get back to doing what I should be doing, the way it should be done.This is part of that process.To those supporters who were told that I abandoned them, that is untrue.I abandoned greed, corruption, and compromise, never you, and never the artistic gifts and abilitiesthat sustained me."

Jay-Z Loses Guinness World Record

Men lie. Women lie. Numbers don't and the numbers now show that Jay-Z no longer holds the Guinness World Record for the most live concerts performed in 24 hours in different locations.
The Flaming Lips now hold the world record after performing in eight different cities, one more than Jigga.
As a part of "The Hangar Tour," Hova set the record in November of 2006, the same month he dropped Kingdom Come, by performing in seven different cities which were Atlanta, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Las Vegas, in that specific order.
"History in the making, part 18," Jay stated at 5:58 a.m. in Atlanta, back in 2006, as reported by MTV News. Then after hitting the stage at 6:19 a.m., Hova said to the crowd, "This is a moment in time. It's more than history."
"I'm crazy," Jigga replied, in 2006, when asked by Shaheem Reid, now XXL's Editor-at-Large, why he wanted to complete the remarkable task. "I'm trying to bring some excitement back to the game."
By the same token, the Lips' frontman Wayne Coyne was not too interested in being a part of the Guinness Book of World Records. However, after he and his fellow rockers made it to New Orleans for the final show of the day with close to an hour to work with, Coyne referred to the feat as an "absurd joy."
Jay seemed to feel a similar joy when he first set the world record all those years ago. "We did it!" Hova yelled to his entourage after wrapping up The Hangar Tour in Las Vegas.

Music Director DJ Tee Denies Stabbing Upcoming Act On Set (PHOTOS)

                                                           
The top music director claims he didn't stab anyone, contrary to the news making the rounds that he stabbed an extra on set of a video shoot last night. According to his side of the story, the guy in question slapped him after they had an argument on set, and some of his boys who witnessed the assault descended on the guy.  DJ Tee took to twitter this morning to clear the air. See his tweet below:

The extra, who is an up and coming singer himself, according to DJ Tee, smashed a bottle against hard metal above their heads, the bottle shattered and broken pieces cut him and DJ Tee, which was how he supposedly got the injury you see below:
The injured guy, Alvin Osungade, is yet to tell his own side of the story.

The Man Who Donated A Church To President Jonathan's Home-Town Dies Of Depression

The controversial Church
Domenico Gitto, the owner of Gitto Construzioni Generali Nigeria Limited, the company which donated the controversial Church to Otueke, President Jonathan's home town in Bayelsa, is dead.
Mr. Gitto, died in Nigeria today in yet unclear circumstances.
Sources close to the Italian businessman however say he has been troubled for sometime owing to the huge debt piled up by his company in Nigerian banks.

"The company has been having legal battles with many Nigerian banks over failed debts it owes," a source said.

Union bank, said to be the largest creditor of Gitto is owed N10billion naira and is reported to have seized some of the company's heavy equipment it uses for construction. 

Gitto is also said to owe Diamond bank N6billion naira, a matter which has led the bank taking the company to court.

A third bank, FCMB, had written to the Federal Ministry of Works asking that all money to be paid Gitto by the ministry be paid to the bank, over a N5billion debt owed it.

It is not clear if Gitto agreed to build the "church gift" edifice in Otueke in order to curry favours from President Goodluck Jonathan and probably be able to pay its debt.  
Mr. Jonathan had said, while commissioning the Church, that he simply mentioned the idea of the old dilapidated Church to Mr. Gitto before the latter decided to build the modern edifice.

Pastor Runs Mad While Praying For Mad Man

PEOPLE living at Oke-Ado area of Ibadan, Oyo State, as well as shop owners and automobile dealers along Molete road in the town, on Thursday, watched a drama involving a pastor and a mad man.
The pastor, whose name is Timothy, according to an eyewitness, got to Ososami junctions of Oke-Ado around 5.20 p.m and went to meet the mentally-deranged man, popularly known as Tunde, who was sitting in front of a building in the area.

According to Semiu, a shop owner around the spot of the incident, the pastor began to read the Bible on sighting the mad man, while he moved closer to him and laid the hand on his head.
“At a point, there was a hot argument between the duo, which made the pastor to raise his voice as he was offering a deliverance prayer for Tunde, the mad man. The hot prayer lasted for over 15 minutes before another strange drama began,” Semiu told the Nigerian Tribune.
Speaking further, another witness, an okada rider, said at a point, the mad man removed the pastor’s hand from his head, adding that “suddenly, a strange spirit got hold of the pastor and he began to remove his cloth. He was naked and laid flat on the ground, speaking a strange language, with foam oozing out of his mouth.”
The mad man, it was gathered, initially left him in this position and sat at some distance away from the pastor, before the duo later sat closer to each other, while onlookers watched the strange drama.
The pastor remained in state of insanity until the Nigerian Tribune left the scene of the incident.

Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes split after five years

LOS ANGELES — Fairytale Hollywood couple Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes announced they were calling it quits after five years of marriage, ending an unexpected love story dogged by tabloid rumors.
"Kate has filed for divorce and Tom is deeply saddened and is concentrating on his three children," Amanda Lundberg, Cruise's representative, told AFP on Friday. "Please allow them their privacy to work this out."
"This is a personal and private matter for Katie and her family," said Jonathan Wolfe, the attorney representing Holmes. "Katie's primary concern remains, as it always has been, her daughter's best interest."
Cruise, who turns 50 on Tuesday, wed Holmes, 33, in a storybook Italian castle in November 2006 after declaring his love for the former "Dawson's Creek" star live on "Oprah" -- famously hopping on a couch in the studio.
It was Holmes's first marriage and Cruise's third. They have a six-year-old daughter, Suri.
The "TomKat" split comes just 10 days after the "amicable" parting of US actor Johnny Depp and French singer/actress Vanessa Paradis, and will doubtless lead to renewed chatter about the pressures on Hollywood couples.
Holmes has admitted to having a teenage crush on Cruise, even saying she had put up a poster of the "Top Gun" star in her bedroom.
After a whirlwind courtship that culminated in a proposal under the Eiffel Tower in June 2005, what followed resembled a fairytale -- at first.
Fireworks lit up the night sky above the 15th-century Odescalchi castle near Rome when Cruise and Holmes tied the knot on November 18, 2006.
Glitterati from the worlds of cinema, sports and music were on hand at the sprawling estate perched above the lakeside town of Bracciano as Holmes offered her hand to the "Mission Impossible" star, who has three Oscar nominations.
Italian media reported that American Scientology leader David Miscavige officiated at the event, arguably the most high-profile Scientology wedding to date, in a ceremony that lasted no more than 15 minutes.
Reports at the time said that under the prenuptial agreement, Holmes -- who converted to Scientology -- would receive $3 million for every year of the marriage plus ownership of a California mansion if they split.
But it remains to be seen how the stylish, dark-haired duo -- often snapped at glittery events alongside soccer star David Beckham and his wife Victoria -- will handle the custody of their daughter, who has been called one of Hollywood's most fashionable youngsters.
According to the website TMZ.com, Holmes wants sole custody.
Citing unnamed sources, the website claims Holmes filed for divorce mainly over Cruise's ties to Scientology, "fearing that Tom would drag Suri deep into the church."
"We're told the couple had been arguing over Suri -- that she's now of the age where Scientology becomes a significant part of her life," it said.
Tabloids, shadowing the couple since the get-go, have speculated for some time that the relationship was on the rocks after the pair was not seen together for months. Cruise has also won two lawsuits alleging he is gay.
In an interview with Playboy magazine in May, Cruise said he would be spending his birthday shooting a film in Iceland -- without his significant other.
"My family, my wife, they understand. It's who I am," he said.
Addressing rumors about his private life, he added: "You just have to keep going and remember that. The other stuff? I hear it, I read it, I get it. But life is not a matter of trying to prove anything to anybody."
Born in New York state in 1962, Cruise was raised by his mother and barely knew his father who left early on. That didn't change his feelings about family.
"I always wanted to be a father, a husband," he told Playboy.
Cruise, still one of Hollywood's most bankable stars as shown by recent box office smash "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol," was married to Australian actress Nicole Kidman from 1990 to 2001. The couple had two adopted children, 19-year-old Isabella and 17-year-old Connor.
He was also married to American actress Mimi Rogers from 1987 to 1990 and had a three-year relationship with Spanish star Penelope Cruz after splitting up with Kidman.
Holmes, who was born and raised in Ohio, appeared in "Batman Begins" (2005) and starred alongside Adam Sandler in the critically panned 2011 romantic comedy "Jack and Jill."
News of the divorce set off an avalanche of messages on Twitter, many sarcastic in nature.
"Mimi Rogers 1956; Nicole Kidman 1967; Katie Holmes 1978 - my supercomputer analysis says Tom Cruise's next wife was born in 1989," said one, signed HAL_9000.

Top DJs For Jimmy’s Jump Off

On 1 July, all roads will lead to Get Arena, Lekki, Lagos, as iconic DJ, Jimmy Jatt will be hosting his popular annual show, Jimmy’s Jump Off for the third year.
This year’s edition of the popular gig is planned to be bigger and better with loads of surprises and performances by top Nigerian artistes and top flight DJs from radio, club and concert circuits.
The heavy weight list of DJs on the bill include; DJ Waxxy, DJ Xclusive, DJ Neptune, DJ Humility, DJ Spinall, DJ Caise, DJ Sose, DJ Tony Blaze, DJ Xgee, DJ Snoop da Damager and DJ Big N.
Jimmy’s Jump Off is the platform on which Jimmy Jatt brings top performers together to offer eclectic and undiluted fun to his fans and fun lovers. The show has come to feature prominently in annual entertainment calendar in the country and has gathered cult-like following within and outside of the country.

Send down the rain crooner, Majek Fashek gets N15m record deal

Information reaching us indicates that Majekodumi Fasheke, popularly known as Majek Fasheke is gradually returning to the green light few months after he returned home from the United State.
Reports say that the Send Down the Rain singer has signed a 15 million naira deal with a Nigerian record label known as A Plus Recording and Award company.
Dailypost gathered that the contract would last for two years during which the artiste will be heavily involved in a lot of activities, part of which is a tour of countries such as Canada, Italy and Spain. He will also be performing in various parts of Nigeria.
The story of Majek Fashek reflects the biblical parable of the prodigal son. Once upon a time, the Nigerian reggae icon was heading for musical greatness, tipped as heir apparent to the late reggae legend, Bob Marley. His eponymous album Prisoner of Conscience spawned a track called “Send Down The Rain” which evoked downpour anytime he sang in an open-air concert. Majek was touted as a prophet of reggae and he headlined major reggae music festivals around the world. Adored by fans, revered by Rastafarians, he was a true definition of a reggae star.
Just as the prodigal son who took his inheritance and journeyed to a faraway place to live a life of leisure, Majek Fashek relocated to USA hoping to find an American Dream of sort for his music career. And indeed he had a deal with Interscope Records. Unfortunately, the move proved to be a mistake.
He fell on bad times. He squandered his talent. His fame fizzled out. He became poor. A fallen star. A pauperized Majek Fashek, ravaged by drug and alcohol addiction, was reduced to a guitar-playing gitano playing in pubs for pennies. He also lost his good looks. Then there was also a dark story of spiritism about him. Majek Fashek became bad news, even an attempt by the Edo State government to rehabilitate him ended as a lost cause. The only good thing that came from him during that dark era of his life was a 2004 album titled Little Patience, which sold a modest three million copies.
In late 2010, the rainmaker bounced back with the released of a single video entitled Jah Revelation. The video, which was uploaded and available on Youtube enjoys rave reviews. The song is vintage reggae, the lyrics scripture-based, the groove, a hip hop blend. The deal actually is the beginning of a comeback process as the once famous singer is now determined to pick the pieces of his life. As a further step to consolidate this process, he relocated to Nigeria.