Late Onyeka Onwenu Biography, Age, Early Life, Career, Achievements and Net-worth
Onyeka Onwenu died on 30th July, 2024 at the age of 72 years old in Reddington Hospital, Lagos. The funeral service took place at the Fountain of Life Church in Ilupeju, Lagos, followed by a private interment at a vault in Ikoyi.
Onyeka Onwenu MFR born 31 January 1952 was a Nigerian singer and songwriter, actress, human rights and social activist, journalist, politician, and X Factor series judge. Culled the “Elegant Stallion” due to her significant impact on African culture and entertainment, Onwenu was a 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.
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Onyeka Onwenu |
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| Born | 31 January 1952 Obosi, Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria |
| Died | 30 July 2024 (aged 72) Lagos, Nigeria |
| Education | Wellesley College, Massachusetts (B.A.) The New School for Social Research, New York. (M.A.) |
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| Children | 2 |
EARLY LIFE
Onwenu was born on 31 January 1952. She hailed from Arondizuogu, a big town in Ideato North, Imo State, southeastern Nigeria, but was raised in Port Harcourt, the capital city of Rivers State, Nigeria. She was the youngest daughter of Nigerian educationist and politician D. K. Onwenu, who died when she was four years old in a traffic collision 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.
CAREER
Broadcasting
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 Richeswhich 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 member of the NTA board, she also worked as a TV presenter, hosting the shows Contact (1988) and Who’s On? (1993) both on NTA Network.
Music
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 was 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.
Acting
Onwenu’s first movie role was as Joke, a childless woman who adopts an abandoned baby in Zik Zulu Okafor’s Nightmare. She later 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. She appeared in the movie Half of a Yellow Sun with Chiwetel Ejiofor and Thandiwe Newton, and Lion Heart.
PERSONAL LIFE AND DEATH
Onwenu 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.
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. Onwenu was 72.
Onyeka Onwenu Awards
- 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.
- Best Female Artiste – Nigeria Music Award
- Nigerian Woman of Distinction Award, at the country’s 50th Independence Anniversary Celebration in 2010
- True Nigerian Award
Onyeka Onwenu Net Worth
Her net worth is not available. But we presume she’s worth a fortune.
Here are 12 facts about the late Onyeka Onwenu:
1. Onyeka Onwenu was born on January 31, 1952, in Obosi, Anambra state, Nigeria. She graduated from Wellesley College in Massachusetts, USA, with degrees in International Relations and Communication. She also had a master’s degree in media studies from the New School for Social Research in New York.
2. Her father died when she was four years old in a car accident, a week before his appointment as Minister of Education.
3. Before getting into music, Onyeka worked as a journalist for the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), where she was known for her investigative reporting, particularly on social topics.
4. While at NTA, she authored the globally famous BBC/NTA documentary on corruption in Nigeria: A Squandering of Riches, in 1984.
5. Onyeka Onwenu’s debut album, For the Love of You, was released in 1981. The CD had both English and Igbo songs, demonstrating her flexibility.
6. Onwenu was well-known for her unique combination of traditional African music and contemporary pop. She sang in both English and Igbo, thus her music is accessible to a large audience.
7. Some of her most popular songs are “One Love,” “Iyogogo,” “You and I,” and “Ekwe.” The songs have become classics in Nigerian music.
8. Aside from her singing career, Onyeka Onwenu appeared in several Nollywood films. She played a variety of roles, including strong female characters. Some of her popular films include “Half of a Yellow Sun,” “Muna,” and “Mothers-in-Law.”
9. Onwenu was a member of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP).
10. She participated in Nigerian politics and public service. She was the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Women Development in Abuja from 2013 to 2014.
11. Onyeka Onwenu garnered multiple honours for her work in music and advocacy. These include Nigerian national honours such as Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) and accolades at different music award ceremonies.
12. She is survived by her two children – Tijani Charles and Abraham.
