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The legendary Nigerian musician and actress Onyeka Onwenu passed away on Tuesday, July 30, in Lagos.
Naija News reports that the music icon, affectionately known as the ‘Elegant Stallion,’ reportedly collapsed while performing at the 80th birthday celebration of Stella Okolie, the Chief Executive Officer of Emzor Pharmaceuticals, and was later pronounced dead at Reddington Hospital in Victoria Island, Lagos.

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GISTOnyeka Onwenu: 15 Facts You Should Know About The Late Legendary Singer, ActressPublished on 31 July 2024 at 10:12 AMBy Ikenna Ngere
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The legendary Nigerian musician and actress Onyeka Onwenu passed away on Tuesday, July 30, in Lagos.
Naija News reports that the music icon, affectionately known as the ‘Elegant Stallion,’ reportedly collapsed while performing at the 80th birthday celebration of Stella Okolie, the Chief Executive Officer of Emzor Pharmaceuticals, and was later pronounced dead at Reddington Hospital in Victoria Island, Lagos.

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Here are 15 key facts about the life and legacy of Onyeka Onwenu:

1. Early Life: Onyeka Onwenu was born on January 31, 1952, to the family of Nigerian educationist and politician D. K. Onwenu.


2. Tragic Loss: She experienced a significant loss early in life when her father died in an auto accident when she was just four years old. This tragedy occurred a week before he was set to become the Minister for Education.

3. Education: Onwenu pursued higher education in the United States, earning a BA in International Relations and Communication from Wellesley College, Massachusetts, and an MA in Media Studies from The New School for Social Research in New York.

4. Early Career: Before returning to Nigeria, she worked for the United Nations as a tour guide. In 1980, she came back to Nigeria to fulfill her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) obligations with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) in Lagos.


5. Documentary Work: While at the NTA, Onwenu produced the critically acclaimed documentary “Nigeria: A Squandering of Riches” for the BBC/NTA in 1984, highlighting corruption in Nigeria.

6. Music Career: She began her music career in 1981 while still working with NTA, releasing her debut album, “For the Love of You.”

7. Musical Evolution: Onwenu initially started as a secular artist but transitioned to gospel music in the 1990s, writing most of her songs herself.


8. Acting Debut: Her acting career took off with her debut role as Joke, a childless woman who adopts an abandoned baby in the film “Nightmare” by Zik Zulu Okafor.

9. Nollywood Fame: Onwenu appeared in numerous Nollywood films, earning the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in 2006 for her role in “Widow’s Cot.”

10. Recent Roles: Her recent notable screen appearances include roles in the 2014 film “Half of a Yellow Sun” alongside Chiwetel Ejiofor and Thandiwe Newton, and “Lionheart” in 2018.


11. Political Involvement: Onwenu was actively involved in politics as a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).