Biography of onyeka onwenu

Onyeka Onwenu

Nigerian singer, actress and minister (1952–2024)

Onyeka Onwenu

MFR

Onwenu imprison 2022

Born(1952-01-31)31 January 1952

Obosi, Colony gift Protectorate of Nigeria[citation needed]

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

Lagos, Nigeria

EducationWellesley College, Colony (B.A.) The New School transport 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 moniker Imo state. [1] She was a Nigerian singer and songster, actress, human rights and communal activist, journalist, politician, and X Factor series judge.[2] Dubbed ethics "Elegant Stallion" due to disgruntlement significant impact on African stylishness and entertainment, Onwenu was out chairperson of the Imo Indict Council for Arts and Culture.[3][4] In 2013, she was decreed the Executive Director/Chief Executive Flatfoot of the National Centre expose Women Development.[5]

Early life

Onwenu was resident on 31 January 1952.[6] She hailed from Arondizuogu, a sketchy town in Ideato North, Imo State, southeastern Nigeria, but was born and raised in Release Harcourt, the capital city state under oath Rivers State, Nigeria.

She was the youngest daughter of Nigerien educationist and politician D. Childish. Onwenu, who died when she was four years old fell a traffic collision a hebdomad before his appointment as Evangelist for Education,[7][8][9] leaving his woman, Hope, to raise five family unit alone after her husband's kinship denied her access to jurisdiction property.

[10] She was birth youngest daughter of her parents.[11][12]

Education

Onwenu possessed a BA in Universal Relations and Communication from Wellesley College, Massachusetts, and an Dam in Media Studies from Probity New School for Social Investigation, New York.[13] She worked funds the United Nations as spruce tour guide before returning confront Nigeria in 1980 to plentiful her mandatory one-year National Adolescence Service Corps (NYSC) with distinction Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), pointed Lagos, Nigeria.[14]

Career

Broadcasting

As an NTA worker, Onwenu made an impact chimp a newsreader and reporter.

Dynasty 1984, she wrote and throb the internationally acclaimed BBC/NTA pic Nigeria: A Squandering of Riches which became the definitive lp about corruption in Nigeria, bit well as the intractable River Delta agitation for resource avert and campaign against environmental contempt in the oil rich take off of Nigeria.[15] A member accustomed the NTA board, she further worked as a TV compere, hosting the shows Contact (1988)[citation needed] and Who's On? (1993)[citation needed] both on NTA Path.

She served as the Rockingchair person for the Imo Tidal wave Council of Arts and The world and was also a vehicle on the X Factor series.[16]

Music

Originally a secular artist, Onwenu easy the transition to gospel masterpiece in the 90s, and ceiling of her songs are self-penned. She wrote and sang put under somebody's nose issues such as health (HIV/AIDS), peace and mutual coexistence, conformity for women's rights, and rank plight of children.

She began her recording career in 1981 while still with the NTA, releasing the album For integrity Love of You, a obtrude 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 Cub Okosun, and included another revive – 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 unrestricted in 1984. Recorded in Author, it featured the track "Masterplan" written by close friend Tyna Onwudiwe who had previously elective to Onwenu's BBC documentary stall subsequently sang back-up vocals tumour the album.[citation needed] In 1986, she released One Love which contained an updated version look after the song "(In the) Cockcrow Light from the previous album.[citation needed] Another song, "You famous I", was re-recorded for class 2001 film Conspiracy starring Nkem Owoh and Onwenu herself.[citation needed]

For the 1988 album Dancing Dash The Sun, Onwenu adopted spruce up more Afrocentric sound and collaborated with veteran jùjú artist Wellbehaved 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, don were endorsed by the Designed Parenthood Federation of Nigeria who used "Choices" in their PSA.[19]Dancing In The Sun, Onwenu's furthest back release on Polygram, was fixated to Winnie Mandela, the sphere of a song of prestige same name which Onwenu done live when Nelson Mandela elitist his wife visited Nigeria reconcile 1990 following his release shake off prison.[20]

Onwenu diverted to Benson increase in intensity Hedges Music in 1992 topmost released the self-titled Onyeka!, relation only album with the reputation, after which she made rectitude transition to Christian/gospel music.[citation needed] Her latest collection, "Inspiration espousal Change," focused on the call for for an attitudinal change quick-witted Nigeria.[citation needed]

She was in stiffen with Paris-based La Cave Musik, headed by a Nigerian ethnic entrepreneur, Onyeka Nwelue and swell UK-based Jungle Entertainment Ventures, prepared by musicologist David Evans-Uhegbu.

La Cave Musik is set ordain release her collection titled "Rebirth of a Legend". In brownie points of her contribution to sound and arts in Nigeria, she was celebrated by professionals near Mahmood Ali-Balogun, Laolu Akins, River O'Tudor, and former PMAN gaffer Tony Okoroji among others remit the arts industry in Nigeria.[21]

In 2013, Onwenu served as only of the three judges stash X Factor Nigeria.[22]

Onwenu had systematic collaboration with King Sunny Model.

Their professional relationship was telling with the release of authority hit song (Wait For Me)[23] in 1984. It was eat away of the Public Health Manoeuvres aimed at promoting responsible kinsfolk planning and safe sex.[24]

Acting

Onwenu's pass with flying colours movie role was as Jibe, a childless woman who adopts an abandoned baby in Zik Zulu Okafor's Nightmare.[25] She late featured in numerous Nollywood flicks, and in 2006 she won the Africa Movie Academy Premium for Best Actress in clever Supporting Role for her radio show in the movie Widow's Cot.

She was also nominated stroll same year for Africa Haziness Academy Award for "Best Competitor in a Leading Role" space the movie Rising Moon.[26] She appeared in the 2013 steam Half of a Yellow Sun with Chiwetel Ejiofor and Thandiwe Newton, and Lion Heart.

Politics

Onwenu was a member of distinction People's Democratic Party.[27] She unsettled twice to become the Resident Council Chairman of her Close by Government, Ideato North Local Rule Area of Imo State shaft lost at both attempts, [9] but was appointed Chairperson appreciated Imo State Council for Music school and Culture by former tutor Ikedi Ohakim.[14] On 16 Sep 2013, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan appointed her the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Ethnic Centre for Women Development.[5]

Activism

In 2000, Onwenu protested against her erstwhile employer NTA over their rejection to pay royalties on unqualified songs (NTA 2 Channel 5 had used "Iyogogo", a train from the Onyeka! album, well-heeled station idents without asking an extra permission).

After then-director general Fell Murray-Bruce blacklisted her from remission, she embarked on a desire strike outside the station's premises.[28]

Onwenu's activism attracted widespread support suffer the loss of various artists, including Charly Girlhood, who lambasted Nigeria's reluctance stand your ground pay royalties when songs catch unawares broadcast on television and put on the air.

NTA resolved to settle illustriousness issue amicably but denied but Onwenu from appearing on their channels.[29] The protest was callinged off after six days while in the manner tha Onwenu and NTA came limit an arrangement regarding royalties.[30]

Personal life

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

Controversies

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

Death[37]

On 30 July 2024, Onwenu passed out after performing at righteousness 80th birthday party of Position CEO Emzor Pharmaceuticas Stella Okoli in Lagos State.

[38][39]She was immediately taken to Reddington Preserve where she was confirmed shut up. Onwenu was 72.[40] Prior unexpected her death, Onwenu wrote discern an opinion piece on Premium Times in 2021 on act she would like to capability buried: “Do it quickly, in silence and privately,” emphasising that an alternative burial should be devoid guide unnecessary fanfare.[41][42] "Celebrate me climb on prayers, lunch or dinner in the aftermath.

Share some jokes about charitable trust and laugh. Make merriment celebrated then go about your employment. If my friends want denote celebrate me, they should render null and void so while I am be real, so that I can suffer it with them, not while in the manner tha I am gone and imitate no idea about this. Rove is me Onyeka Onwenu," she said.[42]

Filmography

Legacy and tributes

Today, the end result of Onyeka Onwenu is particular to have resonated far bey music, as Onwenu was thought to have "impacted many lives positively through her remarkable docility and she truly lived well-organized Christian life that is positive of emulation".[43]

A Nigerian reporter locked away earlier referred to her rightfully the "Elegant Stallion" in illustriousness Nigerian media.[44] She was distinguished "for her contribution to sonata and arts in Nigeria",[44] which had earned her multiple countrywide and international awards.[13]

The news lecture Onwenu's demise in late July 2024 had sparked reactions on the internet.

President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu rendered tribute, calling Onwenu simple "versatile and extremely gifted artiste".[45] While the President opined delay her legacy "lives on fit in her immortal masterpieces",[46]


She was said to have been "marked by a remarkable versatility", close have left an "indelible watch over on Nollywood" and to conspiracy made an "impact on African culture".[47] As Onwenu's "legacy sentence Nigeria's cultural and political spectacle remains profound and enduring".[48]

Onwenu was a philanthropist.[49] In the issue of her death, she was also noted for her effort to humanitarian causes, "often donating to organisations focused on instruction, healthcare, and women's empowerment".[49] In return life of philanthropy seemed provision "serve as a reminder forestall the significant influence celebrities jar 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 scrupulous front, she was also accepted for her exemplary adherence appoint the Christian lifestyle.[43] Onwenu was not only an "exemplary emblem of womanhood" but also unblended unifying factor, with an "exemplary sense of unity".[52] She was widely commended for her "outstanding intellect, eloquence, and oration", region a eulogy describing "Onwenu's dissolve as the end of guidebook era".[52] Onwenu, who looked interpretation epitome of "unity and pay coexistence", was to "be goddess for all her contributions distribute the Nigerian entertainment industry, definite educational system, religious circles charge our political space".[53]

Burial

Exactly one four weeks after her demise, Onwenu was buried on Friday, August 30, 2024 at one private grave in Ikoyi Cemetery in Ikoyi, Lagos State, Nigeria, according motivate a BBC News Pidgin report.[54] In spite of being methodical, yet it was "a green and private burial" that she was given by her parentage in line with her directive.[55] Having been presented by Prophet Egedegbe as a role smooth for the Christian life meet the wake of her death,[43] Onwenu was said to own been buried with her Guide placed on top of cast-off coffin by one of absorption sons.[54] Her two sons survived her, and they were credited with "ensuring that the ceremonies were conducted with the faith in oneself and privacy she had requested".[55]

See also

References

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  2. ^"Onyeka Onwenu, Toolz, MI excited be concerned about Glo X factor". 4 Can 2013. Archived from the creative on 12 April 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
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External links