Ms. Onyeka Onwenu, a veteran Nigerian singer, songwriter, and actress, has passed away.
According to reports, Ms. Onwenu passed away on Tuesday night at the Reddington Hospital in Lagos after collapsing during her performance at Mrs. Stella Okoli’s birthday celebration.
The sad news was confirmed to TheNiche by an eyewitness who attended the celebration.
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“It is very sad. Onyeka Onwenu just performed at the birthday of Mrs. Stella Okoli today (Tuesday, July 30, 2024), and after performing, she slumped. “She was taken to Reddington Hospital and she couldn’t make it,” the unnamed eyewitness told the newspaper.
News central TV reports “that the celebrated music icon collapsed at the Reddington Hospital in Lagos after falling ill during a private function. According to sources close to the family, Onwenu was attending a friend’s birthday party when she took to the stage to perform. Shortly after returning to her seat, she suddenly collapsed. Emergency responders swiftly arrived and rushed her to the hospital in Victoria Island, where she was later pronounced dead. The cause of death is yet to be confirmed.l
Born on 31 January 1952, Onwenu was a multifaceted artist whose career spanned over four decades. She was not only a renowned singer and songwriter but also an actress, journalist, and politician. Onwenu’s music blended genres such as highlife, reggae, and pop, often addressed social and political issues. Some of her most popular songs include “One Love,” “Iyogogo,” and “Ekwe.”
The late singer who was dubbed “The Elegant Stallion” by the Nigerian press, was at a time the chairperson of the Imo State Council for Arts and Culture. In 2013, she was appointed the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Women Development.