Legendary Nigerian Singer Onyeka Onwenu Passes Away at 72

Iconic Nigerian singer and songwriter Onyeka Onwenu, whose music captivated audiences throughout the 1980s and 90s, has passed away.

Onwenu, affectionately known as the “Elegant Stallion,” collapsed and died on Tuesday night after performing at a birthday party in Lagos. She was 72 years old.

The tragic event unfolded during a celebration for Mrs. Stella Okoli of Emzor Pharmaceuticals. After delivering a performance, Onwenu returned to her seat, where she suddenly slumped. Emergency services were immediately called, and she was rushed to Reddington Hospital in Victoria Island, Lagos, where she was pronounced dead.

“It is very sad. Onyeka Onwenu just performed at the birthday of Mrs. Stella Okoli today, and after performing, she slumped. She was taken to Reddington Hospital and she couldn’t make it,” an eyewitness recounted. The cause of her death remains unknown at this time.

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Born on January 31, 1952, Onwenu was a multifaceted artist and activist whose influence spanned over four decades. In addition to her successful music career, she was an accomplished actress, broadcaster, and social and human rights advocate. Onwenu also served as the chairperson of the Imo State Council for Arts and Culture and was the Executive Director of the National Centre for Women Development in 2013.

Onwenu hailed from Arondizuogu, Ideato North in Imo State, but was raised in Port Harcourt. She was the youngest of five children and the daughter of Nigerian educationist and politician D. K. Onwenu, who tragically died in a car accident when she was just four years old.

Onwenu earned a bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Communication from Wellesley College, Massachusetts, and an MA in Media Studies from The New School for Social Research in New York.

Before returning to Nigeria in 1980, she worked as a tour guide at the United Nations and later joined the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) for her mandatory national youth service.

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Her music career took off in 1981 while she was still with the NTA, with her debut album “For the Love of You.” Over the years, she released several hit songs, including “You and I,” “Wait for Me” (a duet with legendary juju artist King Sunny Ade), “Iyogogo,” and “Dancing in the Sun.”

Onwenu also had a notable acting career, with roles in various Nollywood films. She won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in 2006 for her performance in “Widow’s Cot” and received several other nominations.

In 2000, Onwenu made headlines when she protested against her former employer, the NTA, over unpaid royalties for her song “Iyogogo.” Her protest, which included a hunger strike, highlighted her commitment to artists’ rights and her fearless activism.

Onyeka Onwenu’s legacy as a trailblazer in Nigerian music, film, and advocacy will be remembered for years to come.