Onyeka Onwenu MFR, born on January 31, 1952, and passed away on July 30, 2024, she was a multi-talented Nigerian individual.
She was known as a singer, songwriter, actress, human rights and social activist, journalist, politician, and former judge on the X Factor series.
Onwenu earned the nickname “Elegant Stallion” for her significant contributions to African culture and entertainment.
She also served as the chairperson of the Imo State Council for Arts and Culture and later became the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Women Development in 2013.
REAL FACTS ABOUT ONYEKA Onwenu
DATE OF BIRTH:31 January 1952
DIED: 30 July 2024
OCCUPATION:Broadcaster, singer, actress, politician
EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION
Onwenu originated from Arondizuogu, a large town in Ideato North, Imo State, located in southeastern Nigeria.
However, she was brought up in Port Harcourt, which is the capital city of Rivers State in Nigeria.
She was the youngest child of D. K. Onwenu, a Nigerian educationist and politician.
Unfortunately, her father passed away in a car accident when she was only four years old, just a week before he was appointed as the Minister for Education.
This left his widow, Hope, to raise their five children alone, as her husband’s family denied her access to his belongings.
Onwenu had a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Communication from Wellesley College in Massachusetts, as well as a Master’s degree in Media Studies from The New School for Social Research in New York.
After working as a tour guide for the United Nations, she came back to Nigeria in 1980 to fulfill her one-year mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) in Lagos.
CAREER
Onwenu, an employee of the NTA, had a significant influence as a newsreader and reporter.
In 1984, she authored and presented the highly praised documentary Nigeria: A Squandering of Riches, which was a collaboration between the BBC and NTA.
This documentary became the definitive film on corruption in Nigeria, as well as the ongoing struggle in the Niger Delta for control over resources and the fight against environmental degradation in the oil-rich region of Nigeria.
Onwenu, who was previously a member of the NTA board, has also worked as a television presenter, hosting the programs Contact (1988) and Who’s On? (1993), both aired on the NTA Network.
Originally a secular artist, Onwenu transitioned to gospel music in the 90s and the majority of her songs are self-written.
She addressed various issues in her music, including health (HIV/AIDS), peace and coexistence, women’s rights, and the struggles faced by children.
Onwenu began her recording career in 1981 while still working with NTA, releasing her first album titled “For the Love of You.” This pop album featured a symphonic cover of Johnny Nash’s “Hold Me Tight,” produced by Berkley Jones.
Her second album, “Endless Life,” was produced by Sonny Okosun and included another cover – the Everley Brothers’ “Walk Right Back.” Both albums were released under the EMI label.
In 1984, Onwenu released her first album with Polygram, titled “In The Morning Light.” Recorded in London, it included the track “Masterplan,” written by her close friend Tyna Onwudiwe, who had previously contributed to Onwenu’s BBC documentary and also provided backing vocals for the album.
In 1986, she released “One Love,” which featured an updated version of the song “(In the) Morning Light” from her previous album.
Another song, “You and I,” was re-recorded for the 2001 film “Conspiracy,” in which Nkem Owoh and Onwenu both starred.
Onwenu’s initial film appearance was in the role of Joke, a woman unable to have children who decides to adopt an abandoned baby in the film Nightmare directed by Zik Zulu Okafor.
Since then, she has appeared in numerous Nollywood films. In 2006, she received the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her outstanding performance in the movie “Widow’s Cot”.
Additionally, she was nominated in the same year for the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Leading Actress for her role in the film “Rising Moon”. In 2014, she starred alongside Chiwetel Ejiofor and Thandiwe Newton in the film Half of a Yellow Sun, and in 2018, she appeared in Lion Heart.
PERSONAL LIFE
Onwenu was known for maintaining her privacy and frequently declined to share details about her former spouse, who was a Yoruba Muslim. She had two children named Tijani Charles and Abraham.
DIED
On 30 July 2024, Onwenu collapsed after her performance at a birthday celebration for a friend in Lagos. She was promptly rushed to Reddington Hospital, where her death was confirmed.
