Onyeka Onwenu Farewell: Naija Music Icon Journey End
Di image show grave wey dey symbolize di serene farewell of a Naija music legend Onyeka Onwenu. AI-Generated Image.
Lagos bid Onyeka Onwenu farewell as di legendary Naija musician and actress wey pipo sabi as “Elegant Stallion,” waka go meet her ancestors. Dis woman na true icon wey don bless Naija music and entertainment industry for decades. She take her last breath at di age of 72 after she collapse for event, con later die for Reddington Hospital for Ikeja, Lagos.
Di tori of her sudden death na one wey carry weight for many Naija hearts, as she dey perform for Stella Okoli, di MD of Emzor Pharmaceuticals, her 80th birthday party before dis matter happen. Dem talk say she just perform finish, siddon, drink water, na im she collapse. Dem rush am go hospital, but sadly, she no make am. Di news of Onyeka’s death scatter Naija social media, as plenty people dey send messages of condolences, dey express how much dis woman mean to dem. President Bola Tinubu sef no waste time to share him pain for X, formerly known as Twitter, say di kain loss wey we face na one big gbese wey we no fit pay.
Di burial ceremony na one calm, serene affair wey fit her lifestyle. Dem do am for Fountain of Life Church for Ilupeju, Lagos, and pipo wey sabi her life and legacy full ground. Former presidential candidate Peter Obi and Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, show face to pay their respect, because dem sabi how Onyeka’s work dey impact Naija culture and even beyond. She no be just singer; she be storyteller, actress, and a big advocate for justice and equality. Dis woman carry plenty ogbonge talents wey no be today e start.
Dem lay her body to rest for private vault inside Ikoyi. Na peaceful place wey her legacy fit rest well as her music still dey play for pipo head, dey remind us of all di better things wey she stand for. Di kain respect wey Onyeka earn during her lifetime no be small. E no just dey for her music; she get mouth for activism, too. Dis na person wey no dey shy away from speaking truth, no matter who dey vex.
Di journey of Onyeka Onwenu no start today. Dis woman begin shine for 1980s as one of Naija’s foremost pop stars and journalists. Her songs like “One Love,” “Wait for Me” wey she do with juju star King Sunny Adé, and di hit “Winnie Mandela” wey she sing for Nelson Mandela and him wife when dem visit Naija, all still dey make sense till today. Her voice no be just for music; she also make impact as TV anchor and reporter for Nigerian Television Authority, and later, she become known for di BBC-NTA collaboration, “A Squandering of Riches,” wey expose corruption for di country.
Na person wey no dey fear face, she also enter gospel music for 1990s and begin act for plenty movies. Dem go remember her for her role inside di film “Half of a Yellow Sun,” and later “Lionheart,” Naija’s first-ever Oscar entry, wey unfortunately dem disqualify because e get too much English language. But her impact no be for movie alone; she dey represent Naija culture and heritage well.
She run for public office two times, even though she no win, she still make her mark as chairperson of di Imo State Council for Arts and Culture. Her impact reach all corners of Naija’s social, economic, and political spheres. Dem award her Member of di Order of di Federal Republic in 2011, and she no stop dey push boundaries. Her legacy dey sure for all di achievements wey she don gather, and her two sons go continue to dey represent her light and legacy.
In true Onyeka fashion, she once talk how she want her burial to be: private, calm, and no too much wahala. Make dem just pray, laugh, and enjoy small food, as she believe say life na for enjoyment while e dey last. Her own be make we no dey do plenty noise when person don go; instead, make we appreciate pipo while dem still dey. Dis be her final wish, and na so dem take fulfill am.
