Chief executive officer of the Musical Copyright Society Nigeria (MCSN), Mayowa Ayilaran, has spoken on the impact of late singer, songwriter, actress and journalist Onyeka Onwenu in the organisation.
Mr Ayilaran shared this in an interview with QEDNG publisher Olumide Iyanda, emphasising that the deceased joined MCSN from another collective management organisation (CMO).
On why Onyeka joined MCSN, Ayilaran said, “She had comparison, she was able to compare and contrast and she felt that yes, we can offer better services, we can be more accountable to her. So, I think that’s the reason. She saw the steady progress we were making despite the serious difficulty we were facing. Then she knew that this must be a very reliable and serious organisation.
“She was there standing by us while we were going to court. At a point too when she was on the other side, she told me personally, ‘Look Mayor, I have followed and seen what you are doing. Please keep at it, don’t get tired, don’t get discouraged, I will soon join you people.’ Soon after, she came to MCSN.
“Onyeka is somebody who follows her beliefs. She doesn’t play politics with her emotions. She says it as she sees it and acts the way she sees it. She is very reliable; when she says yes, she means yes. She is a woman with a man’s mind.”
Ayilaran also spoke on why MCSN paid a condolence visit to her family.
“It was necessary because Onyeka was not just another musician, she was a unique musician, she was a defender of the rights of the musician. She was the one who would keep you on your toes to do the right thing. Not necessarily to undermine you but to encourage you. So, such a person will not be just somebody you can ignore when such a thing happens. If we had the opportunity, we would have played a bigger role. She was at a point the director of MCSN.”
Onyeka Onwenu died on July 30, 2024, at the age of 72.
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 audiences with hit songs including ‘One Love,’ ‘Ekwe,’ ‘You and I,’ ‘Iyogogo,’ ‘Dancing in the Sun’ and ‘Falling in Love.’
