Musical Copyright Society Nigeria (MCSN) has joined in mourning singer and songwriter Onyeka Onwenu who died on Tuesday night following a performance in Lagos.
Onyeka, known for her hit songs ‘You and I,’ ‘Iyogogo,’ and ‘Ekwe,’ among others, died aged 72.
In a statement on Thursday, the MCSN said through its director-general and chief executive Mayowa Ayilaran that Onyeka believed in the group’s cause and always identified with it.
Ayilaran said her death came as a “very rude shock.”
“Onyeka has since the 1980s been in the forefront of the struggle for a just, rewarding and enriching copyright system. She was on the side of MCSN when the Society faced life threatening challenges initiated and executed by those denying musicians their rightful income through the exploitation of their works,” the statement reads.
“Onyeka was there in the forefront of MCSN’s struggle when it took its concern to the then Federal Minister of Information and Culture, Professor Jerry Gana in 1994; she was always attending court sessions in defence of MCSN cases, stressing the necessity for musicians whose rights are involved to be seen with the Society to let the court appreciate the more the enormity of the struggle. Onyeka was there with MCSN at the National Assembly before the House Committee on Trade and Commerce in 2006; she was there and spoke gallantly at the public hearing on copyright by the Joint House of Representatives’ Joint Committees on Justice, Judiciary and Human Rights of the 9th National Assembly. She stood for justice!
“Onyeka personally staged a sit-out and hunger strike at the Nigerian Television Authority defending her copyright and those of others who were being flagrantly infringed by the mighty NTA, even up till today.
“Onyeka will never brook any shady deal from any quarter or body, no matter how close she may appear to be with that person. She would also not shy away from admitting and apologising for any mistake or perceived wrong she might have made.
“Onyeka had a brush with MCSN, when she was made to believe that MCSN leadership was not doing things the proper way. She took it upon herself to personally confront, write and publish her belief about certain individual leaders of MCSN and went ahead to resign her membership and directorship of the Society.
“Some years down the line, she discovered the truth about the lies she was made to believe about MCSN and its Management. What did Onyeka do? She personally called Orits Williki and Mayo Ayilaran and apologised to them face-to-face and in extension, to MCSN Management about the error in judgment which she was led to make. She didn’t end there; she admonished us not to get weary or discouraged as she was sure that victory was just around the corner. That very same year, true to her prophesy, MCSN got a break! This reinforced in our mind that Onyeka walked and lived in the Holy Spirit.”
Ayilaran said Onyeka later fully returned to MCSN, not for what she could personally benefit, but for what every musician should benefit.
He revealed her message to him on February 26, 2024, which reads,“… I understand that we are still fighting a battle and that these short notices serve a purpose. Hopefully at some point, we would not need to worry about this. Let us continue to work hard, make progress and make sure that distribution is being done and musicians and right owners are benefitting, no matter how small. You are doing well. Godspeed!”
The MCSN DG added, “I also want to recall a not-too-distant memory when King Sunny Ade was to be succeeded as the Chairman of MCSN; Onyeka was offered and asked to step in as the Chairperson, but she declined, giving up the position to Orits Williki!
“I, and the entire team at MCSN are consoled by the fact and reason that we have bountiful good memories of Onyeka.”
