Onyeka Onwenu: 10 things to know about the late Nigerian icon
Veteran Nigerian singer, broadcaster, and actress Onyeka Onwenu, also known as the ‘Elegant Stallion,’ passed away on Tuesday after a performance at a function.
The 72-year-old singer was confirmed dead at a hospital in Victoria Island, Lagos, after collapsing following her performance at the birthday event of Stella Okoli, founder of Emzor Pharmaceuticals.
The official cause of her death has yet to be disclosed. Here are 10 things to know about the multifaceted Onyeka Onwenu:
1. Onyeka Onwenu was born on January 31, 1952, in Obosi, Anambra State.
2. She was a Nigerian broadcast journalist, singer-songwriter, actress, politician, human rights and social activist, and former X Factor series judge.
3. Onwenu began her broadcast career in 1980 as a corper with the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, in Lagos. In 1984, she wrote and presented the internationally acclaimed BBC/NTA documentary, ‘Nigeria: A Squandering of Riches.’ She also worked as a TV presenter, hosting the shows Contact (1988) and Who’s On? (1993) both on NTA Network.
4. She possessed a 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.
5. The ‘Elegant Stallion’ began her recording career in 1981 while still with the NTA, releasing the album ‘For the Love of You.’ She went on to release four other albums; ‘Endless Love’, ‘In The Morning Light’ (1984), ‘Dancing In The Sun’ (1988), ‘Onyeka!’ (1992). She later made a transition to gospel music in the 1990s. In 2013, Onwenu served as one of the three judges on X Factor Nigeria.
6. She made her acting debut in Zik Zulu Okafor’s ‘Nightmare’ in 1999. 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.’ Onwenu starred in the 2014 movie ‘Half Of A Yellow Sun’ with Chiwetel Ejiofor and Thandiwe Newton. She was in Netflix’s first Nigerian Original film ‘Lion Heart’ (2018).
She has acted in dozens of Nollywood movies.
7. In politics, Onwenu was appointed as the Chairperson of Imo State Council for Arts and Culture by former governor Ikedi Ohakim. She later appointed the Director-General of the National Centre for Women Development in 2013. She contested twice to become the Chairman of her Local Government, Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State and lost at both attempts.
8. She was awarded the National Honors of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) in 2011 in recognition of her contributions to Nigerian society.
9. She was a mother of two. She kept her personal life private. Not much is known about her ex-husband, a Yoruba Muslim.
10. Onwenu died at the age of 72.