July 30, (THEWILL) – Onyeka Onwenu, Nigeria’s iconic singer and songwriter slumped after performing at a private function hosted by Stella Okoli of Emzor Pharmaceuticals in Lagos on Tuesday night and was confirmed dead at the Reddington Hospital in Victoria Island, according to a source with knowledge of the development.
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 (Duets with Sunny Ade).
Born January 31, 1952 and fondly called ‘Elegant Stallion’ by the entertainment press, the 72 years old deceased was also an actress, human rights activist, social activist, journalist and politician.
Ms. Onwenu was a former chairperson of the Imo State Council for Arts and Culture and a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. She unsuccessfully ran twice to become the Local Council Chairman of Ideato North local government.
She was also appointed the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Women Development by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Her activism saw her protest against her former employer, the Nigeria Television Authority, NTA, over their refusal to pay royalties on her songs. After the then-director general Ben Murray-Bruce blacklisted her videos and her person from the network, she embarked on a hunger strike outside the federal government owned broadcaster.
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.’
Onwenu who kept her personal life private, was formerly married to Mr Ogunlende, a Yoruba Muslim, with whom she bore two children, Tijani Charles and Abraham.
