- Late music icon, Onyeka Onwenu was a broadcaster before joining music industry
- She had a stint in politics as local government chairmanship candidate in her council area
- First lady, Oluremi Tinubu, Gov. Peter Mbah mourn the legend
Once again, Nigeria has lost another legend, icon and multi-talented citizen in the person of Onyeka Onwenu, popularly known as the “Elegant Stallion”.
Onwenu died on Tuesday, July 30, 2024 at the age of 72.
According to reports, Onwenu reportedly collapsed after performing at the 80th birthday party of Stella Okolie, chief executive officer of Emzor Pharmaceuticals, on Tuesday.
She was said to have been rushed to Reddington Hospital, where she reportedly passed away.
A source, also revealed that “It is very sad. Onyeka Onwenu just performed at the birthday of Mrs. Stella Okoli of Emzor Pharmaceuticals tonight. After performing, she slumped. She was taken to Reddington Hospital but couldn’t make it.”
Early life
Onyeka Onwenu hailed from Arondizuogu, a big town in Ideato North, Imo State, southeastern, but was raised in Port Harcourt, the capital city of Rivers State . She was the youngest daughter of Nigerian educationist and politician D. K. Onwenu and his wife, Hope Onwenu.
Her father died when she was four years old in an autocrash a week before his appointment as Minister for Education, leaving his widow, Hope, to raise five children alone after her husband’s family denied her access to his property.
Education
Onyeka Onwenu had a Bachelors of Arts, BA in International Relations and Communication from Wellesley College, Massachusetts, and an MA in Media Studies from The New School for Social Research, New York.
However, she worked for the United Nations as a tour guide before returning to Nigeria in 1980 to complete her mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), in Lagos, Nigeria.
Journalism Career
Onwenu was subsequently employed at Nigerian Television Authority. As an NTA employee, Onwenu made an impact as a newsreader and reporter. In 1984, she wrote and presented the internationally acclaimed BBC/NTA documentary Nigeria: A Squandering of Riches which became the definitive film about corruption in Nigeria, as well as the intractable Niger Delta agitation for resource control and campaign against environmental degradation in the oil rich region of Nigeria.
A former member of the NTA board, she has also worked as a TV presenter, hosting the shows Contact (1988) and Who’s On? (1993) both on NTA Network.
Music Career
Originally a secular artist, Onwenu made the transition to gospel music in the 90s, and most of her songs are self-penned. She wrote and sang about issues such as health (HIV/AIDS), peace and mutual coexistence, respect for women’s rights, and the plight of children. She began her recording career in 1981 while still with the NTA, releasing the album For the Love of You, a pop album which featured an orchestral cover of Johnny Nash’s “Hold Me Tight”, produced by Berkley Jones.
Her second album was Endless Life, produced by Sonny Okosun, and included another cover – the Everley Brothers’ “Walk Right Back”. Both records were released under the EMI label.
Onwenu’s first album with Polygram, In The Morning Light, was released in 1984. Recorded in London, it featured the track “Masterplan” written by close friend Tyna Onwudiwe who had previously contributed to Onwenu’s BBC documentary and subsequently sang back-up vocals on the album. In 1986, she released One Love which contained an updated version of the song “(In the) Morning Light from the previous album. Another song, “You and I”, was re-recorded for the 2001 film Conspiracy starring Nkem Owoh and Onwenu herself.
For the 1988 album Dancing In The Sun, Onwenu adopted a more Afrocentric sound and collaborated with veteran jùjú artist Sunny Ade on the track “Madawolohun (Let Them Say)”. This was the first of three songs the pair worked on together; the other two – “Choices” and “Wait For Me” – centred on family planning, and were endorsed by the Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria who used “Choices” in their PSA.
Dancing In The Sun, Onwenu’s final release on Polygram, was dedicated to Winnie Mandela, the subject of a song of the same name which Onwenu performed live when Nelson Mandela and his wife visited Nigeria in 1990 following his release from prison.
Onwenu diverted to Benson and Hedges Music in 1992 and released the self-titled Onyeka!, her only album with the label, after which she made the transition to Christian/gospel music. Her latest collection, “Inspiration for Change,” focused on the need for an attitudinal change in Nigeria.
She was in partnership with Paris-based La Cave Musik, headed by a Nigerian cultural entrepreneur, Onyeka Nwelue and a UK-based Jungle Entertainment Ventures, headed by musicologist David Evans-Uhegbu. La Cave Musik is set to release her collection titled “Rebirth of a Legend”.
In recognition of her contribution to music and arts in Nigeria, she has been celebrated by professionals like Mahmood Ali-Balogun, Laolu Akins, Charles O’Tudor, and former PMAN president Tony Okoroji among others in the arts industry in Nigeria.
In 2013, Onwenu served as one of the three judges on X Factor Nigeria.
Onyeka Onwenu (31 January 1952 – 30 July 2024) was a Nigerian singer/songwriter, actress, human rights and social activist, journalist, politician, and former X Factor series judge. Dubbed the “Elegant Stallion” due to her significant impact on African culture and entertainment, Onwenu was a former 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.
Acting Career
Onyeka Onwenu exhibited her multi talent character by joining movie industry in the country. Her first movie role was as Joke, a childless woman who adopts an abandoned baby in Zik Zulu Okafor’s Nightmare. She has since featured in numerous Nollywood movies, and in 2006 she won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance in the movie “Widow’s Cot”.
She was also nominated that same year for Africa Movie Academy Award for “Best Actress in a Leading Role” in the movie “Rising Moon”. In 2014 she was in the movie Half of a Yellow Sun with Chiwetel Ejiofor and Thandiwe Newton, and Lion Heart (2018).
Politics
Not yet fulfilled with her acting career, she delved into the murky waters of Nigeria politics. As a member of the People’s Democratic Party, she contested twice to become the Local Council Chairman of her Local Government, Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State and lost at both attempts.
She was later appointed Chairperson of Imo State Council for Arts and Culture by former governor Ikedi Ohakim, an appointment that propelled her politically. Following this appointment, on 16 September 2013, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan appointed her the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Women Development.
Squabbles with NTA
In 2000, Onwenu protested against her former employer NTA over their refusal to pay royalties on her songs (NTA 2 Channel 5 had used “Iyogogo”, a track from the Onyeka! album, in station idents without asking her permission). After then-director general Ben Murray-Bruce blacklisted her from transmission, she embarked on a hunger strike outside the station’s premises.
Onwenu’s activism attracted widespread support from various artists, including Charly Boy, who lambasted Nigeria’s reluctance to pay royalties when songs are broadcast on television and radio.
NTA resolved to settle the issue amicably but denied barring Onwenu from appearing on their channels. The protest was called off after six days when Onwenu and NTA came to an arrangement regarding royalties.
Personal life
It is not an overstatement to say Onwenu’s personal life has been shrouded in secrecy. She has notably kept her personal life private and often refused to disclose private information regarding her ex-husband, a Yoruba Muslim. She was the mother of two children – Tijani Charles and Abraham.
Death
On 30 July 2024, Onwenu passed out after performing at a friend’s birthday party in Lagos. She was immediately taken to Reddington Hospital where she was confirmed dead.
First Lady mourns Onyeka Onwenu, celebrates her legacy
Reacting to the sad incident, the First Lady Oluremi Tinubu paid a heartfelt tribute to Onwenu, describing her as “The Elegant Stallion” whose extraordinary talent and contributions to unity and African values have left an indelible mark on the world of music.
In a condolence message, the First Lady expressed her deep sadness over Onwenu’s passing, recalling their recent interaction during an event to celebrate Mothers of our Nation on May 25, 2024.
She praised Onwenu’s iconic song “One Love Keep Us Together” as a testament to her creativity and commitment to promoting unity and African values.
The First Lady offered her thoughts and prayers to Onwenu’s family, associates, and friends, praying for strength to bear the painful loss. She also wished for Onwenu’s gentle soul to rest in perfect peace, noting that she left a lasting legacy doing what she loved.
In her words, “I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of “The Elegant Stallion”, Onyeka Onwenu, MFR, especially as I still interacted with her not too long ago during the event to celebrate Mothers of our Nation, on the 25th of May, 2024.
“Her extraordinary talent, creativity, and contributions to unity and African values exemplified in her iconic song “One Love Keep Us Together” have left an indelible mark on the world of music, not only in Nigeria but across the world.
“My thoughts and prayers are with her family, associates, and friends during this period of grief. May the Lord God grant them the strength to bear this painful and irreplaceable loss.
“She left us doing what she loved. May her gentle soul rest in perfect peace”, the First Lady said.
Governor Mbah, others mourn Onwenu
Dr. Peter Mbah, the governor of Enugu state has described the demise of the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu; lawmaker representing Anambra South Senatorial District, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, and the songstress in quick succession had dug a big hole in the hearts of Ndigbo, Nigerians, Africans, and the music world as a whole.
Reacting to the news of the unfortunate development on Wednesday, Mbah said, “This is yet another sad development for the nation in general and Ndigbo in particular.
“Coming on the heels of the demise of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and Distinguished Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, Onyeka Onwenu’s sudden death is one death too many and has dug a gaping hole in our hearts. As the late Ghanaian poet and diplomat, Kofi Awoonor, would put it, death has indeed made war upon our house.
“Onyeka Onwenu was a music icon, a songstress par excellence, and a nightingale personified. She was born to sing, and she delivered on her earthly mission in memorable and superlative manners, winning many awards in the process.
“She was also a woman of courage, a social crusader, a patriot, and lover of her people, who never shied away from speaking up in defence and advancement of truth, justice and equity
“Onwenu will be sorely missed, but it is consoling that she lived life to the fullest of her talents, sowing herself indelibly in the heart of humanity and will, like all legends, be remembered for many generations to come. I pray God to grant her soul eternal repose and comfort her family, the nation, and, indeed, Africa.”