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Onyeka Onwenu was a multifaceted Nigerian talent most popularly known for her contributions as a singer/songwriter. She is known for her soulful voice and her ability to blend traditional African music with contemporary styles.
Many do not know that she was an actress, human rights and social activist, journalist, politician, and even served as a judge on the Nigerian version of the X Factor series.
Fondly referred to as the “Elegant Stallion” by the Nigerian press, she served as the chairperson of the Imo State Council for Arts and Culture and was appointed the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Women Development in 2013.
Onyeka Onwenu’s Early Life
Onyeka Onwenu was born on January 17, 1952, in Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria. She was the youngest daughter of D.K Onwenu, a notable educationist and politician from Arondizuogu, a small town in Ideato North, Imo State, southeastern Nigeria.
Tragically, her father died in a car accident when she was just four years old, a week before he was appointed Minister for Education. This left her mother, Hope Onwenu, to raise five children alone after being denied access to her late husband’s property by his family.
Onyeka was raised in Port-Harcourt, Rivers state before she pursued her Bachelor’s degree.
The Scholar:
Onyeka Onwenu possessed a BA in International Relations and Communication from Wellesley College, Massachusetts, and an MA in Media Studies from The New School for Social Research, New York.
She worked for the United Nations as a tour guide before returning to Nigeria in 1980 to complete her mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) in Lagos.
The Broadcaster
Onyeka Onwenu made a significant impact during her tenure at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) as a newsreader and reporter. In 1984, she gained international acclaim for writing and presenting the BBC/NTA documentary “Nigeria: A Squandering of Riches.”
This documentary became a definitive film on corruption in Nigeria and highlighted the Niger Delta’s struggle for resource control and the campaign against environmental degradation in the oil-rich region.
Onwenu also worked as a TV presenter, hosting shows like “Contact” in 1988 and “Who’s On?” in 1993 on the NTA Network and served as a former member of the NTA board.
The wife and mother
While Onyeka Onwenu preferred to keep her private life private, she married a Yoruba Muslim in 1984 and the union produced two sons, Tijani Ogunlende and Abraham Ogunlende. She often refused to disclose private information regarding her ex-husband in public and in interactions with the press
The Musician
Onyeka Onwenu began her recording career in 1981 with her debut album, “For the Love of You,” (produced by Sunny Okosun) featuring an orchestral cover of Johnny Nash’s “Hold Me Tight.” She released several albums over the years, including “Endless Life,” “One Love,” and “In the Morning Light.”
Her second album, “Endless Life,” released under the EMI label, included a cover of the Everly Brothers’ “Walk Right Back.” In 1984, Onwenu’s “In The Morning Light,” her first album with Polygram, was recorded in London and included the track “Masterplan,” written by friend Tyna Onwudiwe.
She continued to evolve her sound with the 1986 release “One Love,” which featured updated versions of previous hits. Her 1988 album, “Dancing In The Sun,” marked a more Afrocentric style and included collaborations with jùjú artist Sunny Ade. This album was dedicated to Winnie Mandela and featured a live performance for Nelson Mandela’s visit to Nigeria in 1990.
The Actor
Beyond music, Onyeka Onwenu had a successful acting career, featuring in several Nigerian movies and television series. Her acting career began with her role as Joke, a childless woman who adopts an abandoned baby, in Zik Zulu Okafor’s film Nightmare.
Onwenu went on to become a prominent figure in Nollywood, appearing in a variety of films. In 2006, she won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance in Widow’s Cot. That same year, she was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her work in Rising Moon.
Onwenu continued to build her film career with notable roles in Half of a Yellow Sun (2014), where she starred alongside Chiwetel Ejiofor and Thandiwe Newton, and Lion Heart (2018).
The Activist
Onyeka Onwenu was a renowned humanitarian involved in various social causes, including women’s rights and the fight against HIV/AIDS. She regularly spoke about bad governance and the corruption that plagued Nigerian institutions.
In 2000, Onyeka Onwenu protested against her former employer, NTA, after the network used her song “Iyogogo” from the Onyeka! album in station idents without permission.
The issue arose when NTA failed to pay royalties for the track, prompting Onwenu to protest outside the station’s premises. The situation escalated when then-director general Ben Murray-Bruce blacklisted her from transmission, leading Onwenu to begin a hunger strike.
Her activism gained significant attention, with support from fellow artists like Charly Boy, who criticized Nigeria’s general reluctance to pay royalties for music broadcast on TV and radio. The protest led to NTA agreeing to settle the matter, although the network denied blocking Onwenu from their channels. The protest ended after six days when both parties reached an agreement on the royalties issue.
The politician
Onyeka Onwenu was also active in Nigerian politics and she put in a determined effort to address corruption at the local government level in Imo State, Nigeria. Over eight years, she pursued the role of Local Government Chairman, facing significant resistance from entrenched interests who feared her commitment to integrity and transparency would reveal their misdeeds.
Her persistent efforts turned the issue of local government corruption into a national concern, drawing widespread attention to the need for reform and accountability in the region.
The Author of My Father’s Daughter
She was an author and published a memoir titled “My Father’s Daughter,” in 2020. The award-winning entertainer shared intimate details about her life. She discussed growing up, getting married, building a career in journalism, and her contributions to the Nigerian music industry. In 2022, she told Netng that “My Father’s Daughter is a book of stories, there are many movies in it.”
The ‘Nigerian Woman of Distinction’
Onyeka Onwenu was recognized for her significant contributions to the Nigerian entertainment industry and her commitment to national issues with several prestigious awards with a Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) award. She was honoured with the Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) award in 2003 by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Her achievements were further acknowledged in 2009 with a National Council for Arts and Culture Award, celebrating her impact in music and cultural administration. She received the “Nigerian Woman of Distinction” Award during Nigeria’s 50th Independence Anniversary Celebration, presented by the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan.
Onyeka Onwenu will forever be remembered as a cultural icon in Nigeria, not only for her music and acting but also for her advocacy and leadership in various spheres of society. On Tuesday, 30th July 2024, Onwenu reportedly died at the Reddington Hospital in Lagos after she slumped while performing at the birthday party of Mrs. Stella Okoli. She was 72 years old.
