TY Bello celebrates former bandmate, Emem Ema, on 40th birthday

Musician and photographer, TY Bello, has celebrated her friend and former bandmate, Emem Ema, on her 40^th birthday.

To celebrate the occasion, the 41-year-old photographer helmed a photo shoot for her rapper friend.

TY Bello shared several pictures from the photo shoot via Instagram on Monday.

“EMEM EMA at 40: One ways to know when a friend is good for you ? Watchout 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,” she wrote in parts

She also detailed how their relationship started and blossomed over the years, mentioning the best characteristics of her friend.

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EMEM EMA at 40: One ways to know when a friend is good for you ? Watchout 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 shes 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 Ive 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 ! #tybellophotography #makeup by the magician herself .. @bimpeonakoya #hair by Mrsoji and myself

A post shared by TY Bello (@tybello) on Mar 11, 2019 at 12:41am PDT

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EMEM EMA at 40: One ways to know when a friend is good for you ? Watchout 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 shes 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 Ive 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 ! #tybellophotography #makeup by the magician herself .. @bimpeonakoya #hair by Mrsoji and myself

A post shared by TY Bello (@tybello) on Mar 11, 2019 at 12:40am PDT

View this post on Instagram

EMEM EMA at 40: One ways to know when a friend is good for you ? Watchout 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 shes 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 Ive 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 ! #tybellophotography #makeup by the magician herself .. @bimpeonakoya #hair by Mrsoji and myself #styledbyme

A post shared by TY Bello (@tybello) on Mar 11, 2019 at 12:39am PDT

View this post on Instagram

EMEM EMA at 40: One ways to know when a friend is good for you ? Watchout 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 shes 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 Ive 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 ! #tybellophotography #makeup by the magician herself .. @bimpeonakoya #hair by Mrsoji and myself #styled by me

A post shared by TY Bello (@tybello) on Mar 11, 2019 at 12:42am PDT

TY Bello clocked 41 on January 14.

She was a member of the defunct gospel band, Kush, during her time in University of Lagos.

Other members of the group included Lara George, Dapo Torimiro and rapper Emem Ema.

Kush gained popularity in the early 2000s with the single “Let’s Live Together,” the group managed to release an album before disbanding.