By Sylvester Adindu (Entertainment Reporter) and Yetunde Beecrooft (Lagos State Correspondent)
Elegant stallion and folklorist, Lady Onyeka Onwenu, has passed on at the age of 72.
The beautiful songstress reportedly gave up the ghost at the Reddington Hospital in Lagos after she was said to have slumped at the birthday party of Emsor Pharmaceutical Limited Chairman, Chief (Mrs) Stella Okoli.
She was said to have sang and danced at the stage at the birthday party to the excitement of the celebrant and guests after which she began to exhibit signs of breath seizure. Onyeka was said to have started feeling uncomfortable when she was rushed to Reddington Hospital where she eventually died.
The news of Onyeka Onwenu's death on Tuesday has began to spread like wild fire across the country, throwing her fans and the entire entertainment and Nollywood sectors into deep mourning.
Onyeka Onwenu, a Singer/Songwriter, Actress, Television Journalist, Social Critic and Politician, was born on May 17, 1952 in Obosi, Anambra State, Nigeria to D.K Onwenu, who died in an auto crash when Onyeka was only four years old.
She is from Arondizuogu, Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State of Nigeria
Following her father's death, Onyeka and her siblings were raised by her single mother. She has a degree in International Relations and Communication from the Wellesley College of Massachusetts, USA, and a master's degree in Media Studies from The New School for Social Research in New York after her primary and secondary school education in Obosi.
Onyeka who is also described as the queen of pop music in Nigeria began her early career In 1980. She returned from the U.S to serve her country, joining the Nigerian Television Authority as a Youth Corps member and immediately made waves as a result of her fearless Journalism.
She wrote a Jaw dropping articles including the 1984 documentary for BBC/NTA, which was titled 'Nigeria, A Squandering of Riches', which exposed the level of corruption eating into the fabric of the Nigerian society.
Onyeka Onwenu's music career proper began in 1981 with the release of ‘For the Love of You' and 'Endless Life' which was produced by Sunny Okosun in 1982, 'The Morning Light' in 1984, 'One Love' in 1986 and 'Dancing In The Sun' in 1988. She stands out as the only musician to have crossed Pop with Juju music and Highlife, and still produce ‘eargasmic’ sounds.
Her songs, like her writing, advocate for unity and cultural cohabitation as well as picking on social issues, issues relating to health and women rights as well as the plight of children.
Onyeka Onwenu emerged into the movie scene in 1999 with the movie 'Not Your Wealth' and has since then been debuted in over 100 Nollywood movies including, 'Conspiracy' in 1999, 'Different Worlds' in 2006 and in Chimamanda's Half of a Yellow Sun which featured Chiwetel Ejiofor and Thandie Newton in 2014.
In recognition of her contribution to music, movies 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.
She is an active politician belonging to The People's Democratic Party (PDP). She is a former Executive Director of the National Centre for Women Development and has also served as the chairperson of the Imo State Council for Arts and Culture, and was once as a member of the National Television Authority Board.
She is a Judge on the Nigerian X- Factor Television Program.
The Actress, Singer, Songwriter, Recording artiste, Journalist, Politician, Social activist, Human right activist, Television personality, Politician, Entrepreneur and a Philanthropist, Onyeka Onwenu, has definitely proven that you can be a Jack of all Trade and a Master in all.
She is married to Mr. Ogunlende and the marriage is blessed with two sons, Tijani Ogunlende and Abraham Ogunlende.
She has won many awards which includes the 2003 National Award – MFR (Member of the Federal Republic); 2006 African Movie Academy Award - Best Actress in a Supporting Role; National Council for Arts and Culture Awards, in recognition of her contributions to the field of Music and Cultural Administration in 2009.
Other awards are: the Best Female Artiste - Nigeria Music Award; Nigerian Woman of Distinction Award, at the country’s 50th Independence Anniversary Celebration in 2010 and True Nigerian Award, among many others not listed here. NNL.
