Nigerian female music icon, Ms Onyeka Onwenu, has passed on at the age of 72.
The actress, journalist, novelist and activist, reportedly breathed her last on Tuesday evening at the Reddington Hospital, Lagos.
Reports indicated that Onwenu slumped after performing at the 80th birthday party of the Managing Director of Emzor Pharmaceuticals, Mrs Stella Okoli.
TheNiche, quoting an eyewitness, wrote, “It is very sad. Onyeka Onwenu just performed at the birthday of Mrs. Stella Okoli today (Tuesday, July 30, 2024), and after performing, she slumped.
“She was taken to Reddington Hospital and she couldn’t make it.”
Born 31st January 1952, the late singer turned politician and rights activist who was dubbed “The Elegant Stallion” by the Nigerian press, was at a time the chairperson of the Imo State Council for Arts and Culture.
In 2013, she was appointed the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Women Development.
Onwenu, who also worked at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and later played host to several programmes, will be remembered for some of her popular songs like “One love”, “Dancing in the sun”, “Alleluia”, “Ekwe”, “Iyogogo”, and “Wait for me”, the last being a duet with King Sunny Ade, the Juju music icon.
