Nigerian queen of songs and veteran actress, Onyeka Onwenu, has sadly passed away. She died at the age of 72.
Onyeka Onwenu passed away on Tuesday night at Reddington Hospital in Lagos Nigeria, after collapsing at a birthday party where she had performed.
In a statement, the children of the veteran Nigerian singer and actress announced her passing, sharing details about her final moments.
“It is with heavy hearts that I and my brother wish to announce the passing of our mother, the much loved Onyeka Onwenu,” her children wrote in the statement signed by her sons, Abraham and Tijani Ogunlende on Wednesday.
“She passed away last night, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Lagos, Nigeria.
“She was rushed to the hospital after an amazing last performance, where doctors made every effort to save her life… sadly she passed.”
The family expressed their gratitude to those who supported Onyeka in her final moments, including “Mr. Peter Obi, Mr. and Mrs. John Momoh and Mr. and Mrs. Okonkwo as well as Messrs Ajayi and Mr. Okpara all of whom were with her during her last moments. Governor Alex Otti joined to condole us soon after her passage.”
She was once described as a “versatile and extremely gifted artiste who applied herself to the whole gamut of artistic enterprise and expression, bringing joy and laughter to many.”
Also nicknamed “the elegant stallion” in a media profile – a label that stuck, Onwenu came to prominence in the early 1980s with her television documentary, “Nigeria: A Squandering of Riches” which she wrote and presented while working for Nigeria’s state television.
The documentary explored citizen’s growing frustrations with the civilian government shortly before the 1983 coup and became a definitive documentation of Nigeria’s post-independence economy and politics.
Considered a cultural icon in Africa’s most populous nation, Onwenu’s career was multi-dimensional, full of talents as a journalist, newscaster, songwriter, musician, performer, actor, producer and politics.
The renowned singer was born in 1952 in Obosi, Anambra State. She released her debut album, ‘For the Love of You,’ in 1981 and has since released several albums and singles, including her hit song ‘One Love.’
She will be sorely missed.