Ace photographer and singer, TY Bello, has been celebrating her friend, and former member of the defunct singing group, Kush, Emem Ema, who turns 40 today.

In a post on her Instagram page on Monday, TY recounted how Emem helped to kick start her photography career by giving her a photography book, which belonged to her late dad, Iyang Ema, who was a famous artist.

According to her, it was in this book, which she described as ‘the only dream seed,’ that she saw the word ‘aperture’ for the first time.

She thanked Emem for being so awesome!

Here is the full text of her post on her Instagram page, on Monday.

“EMEM EMA at 40: One way to know when a friend is good for you? Watch out for what they do when your dream is still a whisper…when your next idea hasn’t crystallized… 20 years ago… I ‘whispered’ about ‘maybe ‘wanting to be a photographer… @vzhun did the first big thing anyone ever did for my photography  … she gave me a photography book ..Her late dad was the famous artist Iyang Ema… madam went into his library and found me a book on photography… Now you have to understand how big a deal this is… I didn’t have access to the internet at the time … this book was the only dream seed .. I saw the word ‘aperture ‘for the first time… I didn’t understand what that was … didn’t understand the book but I read it cover to cover countless times… Emem Ema helped me get started in photography before anyone did.

“Emem knows how to make things happen… because she’s a dreamer –doer… we use to free-style in the room I was squatting at (i didn’t ha accommodation in Unilag for two years  … slept in class and perched with friends pretty much ).. Next thing you know we’re publicly making music… Recording in a studio … becoming a band with @larageorgemusic and @dapotorimiro… Sending songs to my brother @gbengasokefun next thing you know we’re getting a record deal in the United States… And on and on our story goes…

“Emem ema…The shy (believe me she actually is) super smart… Always minding her own business… (Apart from when she’s low key subbing you under her breath??) Workaholic… (Knows where the money is at)…forward thinking …forever loyal… gentle and kindhearted …Tomboyish forever… God loving…media mogul with a mad sense of humor …this girl I’ve known since she was 15 is now 40…. It’s hard to believe… how much time has passed but I’m grateful for the gift that you are …thank you for being so awesome!”