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Six Things To Know About Legendary Onyeka Onwenu |
On Wednesday morning, Nigerians woke up to the news of the passing of legendary singer and actress, Onyeka Onwenu.
Onwenu reportedly collapsed after performing at a birthday party in Lagos.
She was later confirmed dead at a hospital in Victoria Island, though her family has yet to officially confirm the news.
She was 72 years old.
Here are six key facts about this renowned Nigerian figure:
Early Life
Onyeka Onwenu was born on January 31, 1952, in Arondizuogu, a town in Ideato North, Imo State, southeastern Nigeria, but she was raised in Port Harcourt, the capital city of Rivers State.
She was the youngest daughter of Nigerian educationist and politician D. K. Onwenu, who died in an auto crash when she was four years old, just a week before his appointment as Minister for Education. This left her mother, Hope, to raise five children alone after being denied access to her husband's property by his family.
Education
Onwenu earned 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. 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.
Career
As an NTA employee, Onwenu made a significant 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 and the Niger Delta's agitation for resource control and environmental protection. She also worked as a TV presenter, hosting shows like Contact (1988) and Who’s On? (1993) on NTA Network.
Onwenu began her music career in the 1980s, earning the nickname “Elegant Stallion.” She released several albums, blending genres like highlife, pop, and gospel. Some of her popular songs include “One Love” and “You and I.”
She also made a significant mark in Nollywood, starring in numerous films and television series, including Half of a Yellow Sun, Lion Heart, and Muna.
Politics
Onwenu was a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). She contested twice for the position of Local Council Chairman of Ideato North Local Government Area in Imo State but was unsuccessful. However, she was appointed Chairperson of the Imo State Council for Arts and Culture by former governor Ikedi Ohakim.
On September 16, 2013, President Goodluck Jonathan appointed her as the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Women Development (NCWD).
Activism
In 2000, Onwenu protested against her former employer NTA for refusing to pay royalties on her songs. NTA 2 Channel 5 had used “Iyogogo,” a track from her *Onyeka!* album, in station idents without her permission. After then-director general Ben Murray-Bruce blacklisted her, she embarked on a hunger strike outside the station’s premises.
Her activism garnered widespread support from various artists, including Charly Boy, who criticized Nigeria’s reluctance to pay royalties for broadcasted songs. The protest was called off after six days when Onwenu and NTA reached an agreement regarding royalties.
Personal Life
Onwenu kept her personal life private and often refused to disclose details about her ex-husband, a Yoruba Muslim. She was the mother of two children – Tijani Charles and Abraham.
