Veteran Nigerian singer, songwriter, and actress Ms Onyeka Onwenu is dead. Ms. Onwenu is said to have passed away on Tuesday night at Reddington Hospital in Lagos after collapsing following a birthday performance for Mrs. Stella Okoli (who is the proprietor of Emzor Pharmaceuticals). Her cause of death is yet to be confirmed.
Born January 31, 1952, Onyeka was a multifaceted artist whose career spanned over four decades. The late singer, dubbed “The Elegant Stallion” by the Nigerian press, was the Imo State Council for Arts and Culture chairperson.
Onwenu has also acted in several Nollywood films and has won numerous awards for her contributions to music and film. She has been recognised as one of the pioneers of Nigerian music. Onwenu’s music, which blended genres including highlife, reggae, and pop, often addressed social and political issues. Some of her most popular songs include “One Love,” “Tyogogo,” and “Ekwe.”
In addition to her entertainment career, Onwenu has also been involved in politics. In 2013, she was appointed Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Women Development and became the National Centre for Women Development Director-General in 2016.
Onwenu has been recognised for contributing to Nigerian society, including the National Honors of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) in 2011. She has also been recognised as one of the most influential women in Nigeria by various organisations.
