Music songstress, Onyeka Onwenu is dead. She reportedly died at the Reddington Hospital in Lagos after slumping at the 80th birthday party of
Music songstress, Onyeka Onwenu is dead.
She reportedly died at the Reddington Hospital in Lagos after slumping at the 80th birthday party of entrepreneur, Stella Okoli.
Onwenu had just finished performing and was going back to her seat when she slumped.
She was rushed to the hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival.
She was aged 72 at the time of her death
The songwriter, actress, human rights activist, social activist, journalist and politician who was fondly called ‘Elegant Stallion’ was a former chairperson of the Imo State Council for Arts and Culture.
A member of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, she contested election twice to become the Local Council Chairman of Ideato North local government but lost at both attempts.
She was later appointed Chairperson of Imo State Council for Arts and Culture by former governor Ikedi Ohakim.
She was also appointed the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Women Development by President Goodluck Jonathan.
An activist, Onwenu protested against her former employer Nigeria Television Authority, NTA over their refusal to pay royalties on her songs. After the then-director general Ben Murray-Bruce blacklisted her from the transmission, she embarked on a hunger strike outside the stations.
Onwenu’s activism attracted widespread support, forcing NTA to resolve to settle the issue amicably but denied barring Onwenu from appearing on their channels.
As an actress, she won the Africa Movie Academy Award, AMAA for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her role in the movie, Women’s Cot.
As a singer, Onwenu sold millions of records and won several awards during her active recording years in the 80s and 90s, creating hits like One Love, You and I, Ekwe, Alleluya, Bia Nulu, Iyogogo as well as Wait For Me and Choices, which were duets with fellow iconic singer, Sunday Adeyeye aka Sunny Ade.
