The death of veteran singer, songwriter and actress Onyeka Onwenu has thrown the entertainment industry and the entire country into mourning.
Onyeka was confirmed dead after collapsing at the 80th birthday party of Stella Okoli, founder and CEO of Emzor Pharmaceuticals, on Tuesday night.
Doctors at Reddington Hospital in Victoria Island, Lagos pronounced her dead.
Ms. Onyeka had just delivered an energetic performance of her hit song ‘One Love’ before the incident. Dressed in a loose gown, she performed what would be her final song.
Notable attendees at the event included a former presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, and Abia State Governor Alex Otti.
Onyeka earlier shared her excitement about an upcoming film project chronicling her illustrious music career.
“I am currently working on a film that will chronicle my experiences in the music industry from the 70s to the present day. Having been a part of this narrative for decades, I have a wealth of stories to share,” she told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
In addition to the film, she revealed her plans to collaborate with emerging musicians to breathe new life into her classic songs. She assured fans that a compilation of rebranded songs would be released later this year.
“I am rebranding my old songs and collaborating with new talents. My aim is to offer listeners a fresh perspective on timeless classics,” she said.
Born in 1952 in Obosi, Anambra State, Onyeka began her musical journey in the 1980s, releasing her debut album For the Love of You in 1981.
She continued to captivate the world with numerous hit songs including ‘One Love,’ ‘Ekwe,’ ‘You and I,’ ‘Iyogogo,’ ‘Dancing in the Sun,’ and ‘Falling in Love’.
