Music star and renowned social activist, the legendary Ms. Onyeka Onwenu, has been reported dead. She was 72.
A popular Nigerian online newspaper, TheNiche, broke the sad story at about 1a.m. Wednesday, July 31, 2024.
Quoting an eyewitness, TheNiche reported that the Arondizuogu, Imo State-born multi-talented broadcaster-turned-music star died on Tuesday, at Reddington Hospital, Lagos, after she reportedly collapsed at the birthday celebration of Dr. Mrs. Stella Chinyelu Okoli, Founder of Emzor Pharmaceutical.
“It is very sad,” said the eyewitness. “Onyeka Onwenu just performed at the birthday of Mrs. Stella Okoli today, and after performing, she slumped. She was taken to Reddington Hospital and she couldn’t make it.”
The Crest could not independently confirm the tragic story as the phonelines of most sources were off.
Dubbed “Elegant Stallion” for her versatility and magnetic personality, Onyeka hit national and international consciousness when, in 1984, she she wrote and presented the internationally acclaimed BBC/NTA documentary, entitled: Nigeria: A Squandering of Riches. The effort became a definitive film about corruption in Nigeria, as well as the intractable agitation for resource control and campaign against environment degradation in the oil Niger Delta region.
Onyeka, as she was popularly called by her numerous fans in Nigeria, Africa and the rest of the world, began her journalism career at the Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, making huge impact very early in professional journey as a reporter and presenter. Years later, she became a member of the Board of the NTA.
A woman of many parts-journalist, activist, actress, songs writer, politician, Onyeka was born on January 31, 1952, in Arondizuogu, Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State. She was raised in Port Harcourt, capital of Rivers State, alongside her siblings after their father, Mr. D.K. Onwenu, a popular educationist at the time, died in a road crash just a week to his swearing-in as Minister for Education (Wikipedia).
Onyeka , the youngest of the family, was just four years old when that tragedy struck. Mr. Onwenu’s tragic death marked the beginning of sorrow for his young family as, according to Wikipedia, his extended family rose against his young widow, Hope, and denied her access to her late husband’s property.
Consequent upon the problem occasioned by their breadwinner’s sudden death, with its attendant pain and deprivation, Onyeka’s mother, Hope, had to single-handedly raise all five children. And the children all turned out well in life.
Perhaps, the most popular was Onyeka, who was known across the world and whose works remain evergreen since she broke on the big stage.
But now, and according to report from TheNiche online newspaper, Onyeka, who was also the Director-General/CEO of the National Women Centre, has taken a bow out of life’s stage, and the curtain has fallen.
The Crest mourns the sudden demise of Onyeka, the Elegant Stallion, and pray God to comfort her Family and friends at this very difficult time.