Veteran Nigerian singer, songwriter, and actress Onyeka Onwenu has passed away at the age of 72. Reports say she died on Tuesday night after performing at an event on Banana Island, Lagos.
Onyeka Onwenu reportedly collapsed after singing at the birthday party of Stella Okoli, owner of Emzor Pharmaceuticals. She was taken to a hospital in Victoria Island, where she was later confirmed dead, according to The Guardian.
Music, Human Rights Activism and Politics: The Story of Onyeka Onwenu
Onyeka Onwenu’s life is a worthy novel, transitioning multiple careers in music, acting, human rights activism, social activism, journalism, and politics. Onwenu, who is from Arondizuogu, a small town in Ideato North, Imo State, was a proud human activist with an impressive profile to show for it.
Onyeka Onwenu was born in 1952 in Obosi, Anambra State, Nigeria. Dubbed the “Elegant Stallion” by the Nigerian press, the legendary musician always showed the temperament to thrive and impact the development of industries she took an interest in.
She started her music career in the 1980s and released her first album, “For the Love of You,” in 1981. She is recognized as one of the pioneers of Nigerian music. She went on to release many albums and singles, including the popular song “One Love.”
Onwenu also had a successful acting career in Nollywood films and received numerous awards for her contributions to music and film. She also enjoyed a stellar career in Nollywood, starring in hundreds of movies such as Half of A Yellow Sun, Lionheart, Conspiracy, Chain Reaction, To Love An Angel, and many more.
In addition to her entertainment career, Onwenu was involved in politics and activism. One of Onwenu’s greatest social activism feats was in 1984 after she released a scathing documentary for BBC/NTA, Nigeria: A Squandering of Riches. This documentary drew attention to and changed the course of Nigerians’ view on corruption and the environmental degradation of the oil-rich regions forever.
She served as the Chairperson of the Imo State Council for Arts and Culture in 2013 and later became the Director-General of the National Centre for Women Development in 2016.
She was honoured with the National Award of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) in 2011 and was recognized as one of the most influential women in Nigeria by various organizations.
