Helen Parker-Jayne Isibor facts for kids

Helen Epega, also known as The Venus Bushfires, is a talented Nigerian-British artist. Born in 1981, she is an opera singer, songwriter, and composer. She is famous for creating the world's first opera written and performed in Pidgin English. Her special opera, called Song Queen: A Pidgin Opera, was first shown in London in July 2015.

About Helen Epega

Early Life and Education

Helen Epega was born in Ibadan, a city in southwestern Nigeria. She grew up in a family with five children. Her father was a medical consultant, and her mother was a storybook writer. Both of her parents loved music.

When Helen was seven years old, she moved from Benin City to London in the 1980s. She went to an all-girls convent school. Later, she studied Communications and Media at Brunel University London.

Musical Journey and Discoveries

Helen started her music career as a rapper. She later found her unique voice by listening to artists who sang about important social issues. Some of these artists included Fela Kuti and Miriam Makeba.

In 2007, while in Ibiza, she discovered a special instrument called the hang drum. This instrument quickly became her favorite. It has a unique sound that she often uses in her music.

Creating the Pidgin Opera

With help from Arts Council England, Helen Epega created something truly new. She composed Song Queen: A Pidgin Opera, the world's first opera in Pidgin English. This opera follows traditional opera styles.

However, Helen added her own twist. While it still has string instruments, she also included traditional African instruments. These include the kora, talking drums, djembes, and her favorite hang drum for percussion.

The first version of Song Queen was about an hour long. It premiered at The Place in London in 2015. Since then, Helen has made it longer, now lasting up to two hours. The opera has also been performed in other places. It was shown at the Artscape Theatre Centre in Cape Town, South Africa. It was also performed in Lagos, Nigeria, between 2016 and 2019.

The Venus Bushfires Name

Helen Epega is known by her artistic name, The Venus Bushfires. She describes this as "a creative collective of one and many." She explained the meaning behind the name.

In 2008, she visited her grandmother in Benin City. She saw that the land had been burned. Her mother told her it was to clear the ground. Within weeks, new plants grew very quickly. Helen realized that a bushfire can lead to new life and possibilities.

She chose "Venus" because it is the name of the goddess of love. Helen also loves astronomy and stars. So, The Venus Bushfires celebrates balance, love, the Earth, and nature. It is a celebration of life itself.

Recent Works

Helen Epega continues to create new art. Her most recent work, from 2021, is called "Sounds of Us: A Sound Art Snapshot - Life, Love, Fear, Hope & Protest In The Time Of Pandemic Lockdown." This work explores feelings and experiences during a challenging time.

Personal Life

In May 2015, Helen Isibor married Baba Epega.