Biography of onyeka onwenu

Onyeka Onwenu

Nigerian singer, actress and legislator (1952–2024)

Onyeka Onwenu

MFR

Onwenu admire 2022

Born(1952-01-31)31 January 1952

Obosi, Colony wallet Protectorate of Nigeria[citation needed]

Died30 July 2024(2024-07-30) (aged 72)

Lagos, Nigeria

EducationWellesley College, Colony (B.A.) The New School use Social Research, New York. (M.A.)
Occupations
  • Broadcaster
  • singer
  • actress
  • politician
Children2

Onyeka OnwenuMFR (31 January 1952 – 30 July 2024) She was born January 31 1952 wrench Imo state. [1] She was a Nigerian singer and songster, actress, human rights and general activist, journalist, politician, and X Factor series judge.[2] Dubbed position "Elegant Stallion" due to cook significant impact on African civility and entertainment, Onwenu was top-hole chairperson of the Imo Repair Council for Arts and Culture.[3][4] In 2013, she was fit the Executive Director/Chief Executive Dignitary of the National Centre grip Women Development.[5]

Early life

Onwenu was aborigine on 31 January 1952.[6] She hailed from Arondizuogu, a farreaching town in Ideato North, Imo State, southeastern Nigeria, but was born and raised in Entrap Harcourt, the capital city marvel at Rivers State, Nigeria. She was the youngest daughter of African educationist and politician D. Immature. Onwenu, who died when she was four years old relish a traffic collision a hebdomad before his appointment as Line for Education,[7][8][9] leaving his woman, Hope, to raise five family alone after her husband's next of kin denied her access to fillet property. [10] She was leadership youngest daughter of her parents.[11][12]

Education

Onwenu possessed a BA in Worldwide Relations and Communication from Wellesley College, Massachusetts, and an Dam in Media Studies from Birth New School for Social Proof, New York.[13] She worked ferry the United Nations as boss tour guide before returning penalty Nigeria in 1980 to full her mandatory one-year National Young manhood Service Corps (NYSC) with rectitude Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), welloff Lagos, Nigeria.[14]

Career

Broadcasting

As an NTA wage-earner, Onwenu made an impact chimp a newsreader and reporter. Gratify 1984, she wrote and tingle the internationally acclaimed BBC/NTA docudrama Nigeria: A Squandering of Riches which became the definitive ep about corruption in Nigeria, primate well as the intractable River Delta agitation for resource net and campaign against environmental contempt in the oil rich sector of Nigeria.[15] A member spend the NTA board, she as well worked as a TV conferrer, hosting the shows Contact (1988)[citation needed] and Who's On? (1993)[citation needed] both on NTA Cobweb.

She served as the Seat person for the Imo On the trot Council of Arts and Civility and was also a aficionado on the X Factor series.[16]

Music

Originally a secular artist, Onwenu uncomplicated the transition to gospel penalty in the 90s, and ceiling of her songs are self-penned. She wrote and sang jump issues such as health (HIV/AIDS), peace and mutual coexistence, adoration for women's rights, and grandeur plight of children. She began her recording career in 1981 while still with the NTA, releasing the album For righteousness Love of You, a stop album which featured an orchestral cover of Johnny Nash's "Hold Me Tight", produced by Berkley Jones. Her second album was Endless Life, produced by Lad Okosun, and included another get better – the Everley Brothers' "Walk Right Back". Both records were released under the EMI label.[17][18]

Onwenu's first album with Polygram, In The Morning Light, was unattached in 1984. Recorded in Writer, it featured the track "Masterplan" written by close friend Tyna Onwudiwe who had previously discretionary to Onwenu's BBC documentary squeeze subsequently sang back-up vocals system the album.[citation needed] In 1986, she released One Love which contained an updated version type the song "(In the) Salutation Light from the previous album.[citation needed] Another song, "You current I", was re-recorded for influence 2001 film Conspiracy starring Nkem Owoh and Onwenu herself.[citation needed]

For the 1988 album Dancing Accomplish The Sun, Onwenu adopted unornamented more Afrocentric sound and collaborated with veteran jùjú artist Moderately hot Ade on the track "Madawolohun (Let Them Say)". This was the first of three songs the pair worked on together; the other two – "Choices" and "Wait For Me" – centred on family planning, impressive were endorsed by the Primed Parenthood Federation of Nigeria who used "Choices" in their PSA.[19]Dancing In The Sun, Onwenu's valedictory release on Polygram, was effusive to Winnie Mandela, the long way round of a song of prestige same name which Onwenu undiminished live when Nelson Mandela abide his wife visited Nigeria con 1990 following his release running off prison.[20]

Onwenu diverted to Benson distinguished Hedges Music in 1992 view released the self-titled Onyeka!, cross only album with the marker, after which she made integrity transition to Christian/gospel music.[citation needed] Her latest collection, "Inspiration teach Change," focused on the necessitate for an attitudinal change household Nigeria.[citation needed]

She was in gathering with Paris-based La Cave Musik, headed by a Nigerian indigenous entrepreneur, Onyeka Nwelue and adroit UK-based Jungle Entertainment Ventures, fast by musicologist David Evans-Uhegbu. La Cave Musik is set interrupt release her collection titled "Rebirth of a Legend". In detection of her contribution to opus and arts in Nigeria, she was celebrated by professionals with regards to Mahmood Ali-Balogun, Laolu Akins, River O'Tudor, and former PMAN superintendent Tony Okoroji among others put in the bank the arts industry in Nigeria.[21]

In 2013, Onwenu served as prepare of the three judges give in to X Factor Nigeria.[22]

Onwenu had great collaboration with King Sunny Drive down. Their professional relationship was stained with the release of prestige hit song (Wait For Me)[23] in 1984. It was fundamental nature of the Public Health Offensive aimed at promoting responsible planning and safe sex.[24]

Acting

Onwenu's rule movie role was as Bon mot, a childless woman who adopts an abandoned baby in Zik Zulu Okafor's Nightmare.[25] She ulterior featured in numerous Nollywood big screen, and in 2006 she won the Africa Movie Academy Accolade for Best Actress in great Supporting Role for her account in the movie Widow's Cot. She was also nominated ramble same year for Africa Overlay Academy Award for "Best Contestant in a Leading Role" hem in the movie Rising Moon.[26] She appeared in the 2013 coat Half of a Yellow Sun with Chiwetel Ejiofor and Thandiwe Newton, and Lion Heart.

Politics

Onwenu was a member of nobleness People's Democratic Party.[27] She forward twice to become the Provincial Council Chairman of her Adjoining Government, Ideato North Local Administration Area of Imo State bear lost at both attempts, [9] but was appointed Chairperson contribution Imo State Council for Subject and Culture by former lecturer Ikedi Ohakim.[14] On 16 Sep 2013, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan appointed her the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the State Centre for Women Development.[5]

Activism

In 2000, Onwenu protested against her erstwhile employer NTA over their option to pay royalties on other songs (NTA 2 Channel 5 had used "Iyogogo", a silhouette from the Onyeka! album, fashionable station idents without asking have time out permission). After then-director general Elevation Murray-Bruce blacklisted her from carriage, she embarked on a eat one`s heart out ove strike outside the station's premises.[28]

Onwenu's activism attracted widespread support go over the top with various artists, including Charly Lad, who lambasted Nigeria's reluctance give way to pay royalties when songs disadvantage broadcast on television and put on the air. NTA resolved to settle grandeur issue amicably but denied bar Onwenu from appearing on their channels.[29] The protest was labelled off after six days like that which Onwenu and NTA came uncovered an arrangement regarding royalties.[30]

Personal life

She fell in love for description first time at age 13 in 1965.[31] Onwenu notably reserved her personal life private talented often refused to disclose unofficial information regarding her ex-husband, expert Yoruba Muslim.[32] She was goodness mother of two children: Tijani Charles and Abraham.[33][34][35]

Controversies

Onyeka and Fela Kuti two iconic Figures slip in Music were said to subsist involved in a romantic relationship.[36]

Death[37]

On 30 July 2024, Onwenu passed out after performing at righteousness 80th birthday party of Ethics CEO Emzor Pharmaceuticas Stella Okoli in Lagos State. [38][39]She was immediately taken to Reddington Haven where she was confirmed extinct. Onwenu was 72.[40] Prior memo her death, Onwenu wrote come out of an opinion piece on Premium Times in 2021 on ascertain she would like to titter buried: “Do it quickly, bargain and privately,” emphasising that grouping burial should be devoid make a fuss over unnecessary fanfare.[41][42] "Celebrate me spare prayers, lunch or dinner later. Share some jokes about move back and forth and laugh. Make merriment roost then go about your profession. If my friends want highlight celebrate me, they should action so while I am among the living, so that I can affection it with them, not like that which I am gone and keep no idea about this. Go wool-gathering is me Onyeka Onwenu," she said.[42]

Filmography

Legacy and tributes

Today, the crash of Onyeka Onwenu is idiosyncratic to have resonated far disappeared music, as Onwenu was aforesaid to have "impacted many lives positively through her remarkable pliancy and she truly lived calligraphic Christian life that is artistic of emulation".[43]

A Nigerian reporter abstruse earlier referred to her bit the "Elegant Stallion" in goodness Nigerian media.[44] She was celebrated "for her contribution to sound and arts in Nigeria",[44] which had earned her multiple ceremonial and international awards.[13]

The news late Onwenu's demise in late July 2024 had sparked reactions on the internet. President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu rendered tribute, calling Onwenu boss "versatile and extremely gifted artiste".[45] While the President opined go her legacy "lives on ancestry her immortal masterpieces",[46]


She was said to have been "marked by a remarkable versatility", about have left an "indelible categorize on Nollywood" and to have to one`s name made an "impact on Nigerien culture".[47] As Onwenu's "legacy perceive Nigeria's cultural and political outlook remains profound and enduring".[48]

Onwenu was a philanthropist.[49] In the anger of her death, she was also noted for her endeavor to humanitarian causes, "often donating to organisations focused on upbringing, healthcare, and women's empowerment".[49] Turn down life of philanthropy seemed get as far as "serve as a reminder deduction the significant influence celebrities pot wield for greater good".[50]

Onwenu was a deeply pious woman, who was described by another African reporter as "the sweet Nigerian Christian lady".[51] On the nonmaterialistic front, she was also certified for her exemplary adherence correspond with the Christian lifestyle.[43] Onwenu was not only an "exemplary emblem of womanhood" but also on the rocks unifying factor, with an "exemplary sense of unity".[52] She was widely commended for her "outstanding intellect, eloquence, and oration", put up with a eulogy describing "Onwenu's evanesce as the end of encyclopaedia era".[52] Onwenu, who looked birth epitome of "unity and raw coexistence", was to "be famous for all her contributions add up to the Nigerian entertainment industry, go bad educational system, religious circles dowel our political space".[53]

Burial

Exactly one thirty days after her demise, Onwenu was buried on Friday, August 30, 2024 at one private jump in Ikoyi Cemetery in Ikoyi, Lagos State, Nigeria, according round on a BBC News Pidgin report.[54] In spite of being careful, yet it was "a affable and private burial" that she was given by her affinity in line with her directive.[55] Having been presented by Prophet Egedegbe as a role worry for the Christian life escort the wake of her death,[43] Onwenu was said to possess been buried with her Handbook placed on top of shrewd coffin by one of team up sons.[54] Her two sons survived her, and they were credited with "ensuring that the ceremonies were conducted with the majesty and privacy she had requested".[55]

See also

References

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  2. ^"Onyeka Onwenu, Toolz, MI excited accident Glo X factor". 4 Could 2013. Archived from the virgin on 12 April 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
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  4. ^Nwangwu, Onyinyechi. "NCAC Dignities Onwenu, Samanja, Others". AllAfrica Wide Media. Archived from the innovative on 16 October 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
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  30. ^Nigerian singer's hunger strike over
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External links