Onyeka Onwenu, born on January 31, 1952, is a renowned Nigerian figure celebrated for her multifaceted career.
Onwenu was said to have died on Tuesday night at the Reddington Hospital in Lagos after slumping at the birthday party of the CEO of Emzor Pharmaceuticals, Mrs Stella Okoli.
Onwenu, who hailed from Arondizuogu, a town in Ideato North, Imo State, was born and raised in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
She is the youngest daughter of Nigerian educationist and politician D. K. Onwenu, who tragically passed away in an auto crash when she was just four years old, a week before he was appointed Minister for Education.
Onwenu’s impressive career spans several fields, including music, acting, human rights activism, journalism, and politics.
Known for her powerful voice and charismatic stage presence, she earned the nickname “Elegant Stallion” from the Nigerian press.
She served as the chairperson of the Imo State Council for Arts and Culture and was also a judge on the X Factor series.
Her music resonates across generations, with iconic songs like “One Love” and “You and I,” the latter popularised further by Africa Magic. Another notable song, “Ekwe,” holds a significant place in cultural history and is often remembered for its bold and somewhat combative tone, reminiscent of the struggles faced by earlier generations.
Onwenu’s legacy as a singer/songwriter, actress, and social activist continues to inspire and influence Nigerian culture and beyond.
Her songs create awareness about diverse salient issues and a recent one in 2022 was to support widows – understanding their plights in Nigeria, Africa and the world at large
Onwenu announced that her latest song titled, ‘Rise Up‘, was written and produced in partnership with the Rose of Sharon Foundation, to draw attention to the plight of widows in society.
The foundation is owned by Folorunsho Alakija, one of the richest black women in the world.
Things to know about the late Onwenu:
Early Life and Education: She attended Wellesley College in Massachusetts, USA, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Communication.
Music Career: Onwenu began her music career in the 1980s, becoming known as the “Elegant Stallion.
She has released several albums, blending genres like highlife, pop, and gospel. Some of her popular songs include “One Love” and “You and I.
Acting Career: She has also made a significant mark in Nollywood, starring in numerous films and television series. Half of a Yellow Sun, Lion Heart, Muna, and many others.
Politics: Onwenu ventured into politics, serving as the chairperson of the Imo State Council for Arts and Culture.
Advocacy and Humanitarian Work: She is an advocate for women’s rights and has been involved in various humanitarian efforts, focusing on issues like maternal health and child welfare.
Awards and Recognition: Onwenu received numerous awards for her contributions to music, acting, and public service.
Legacy: Known for her powerful voice and stage presence, Onwenu remains an influential figure in Nigerian entertainment and culture.
Onwenu is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party.
She contested twice to become the Local Council Chairman of her local government and lost at both attempts, but was appointed Chairperson of Imo State Council for Arts and Culture by former Governor Ikedi Ohakim.
On September 16, 2013, President Goodluck Jonathan appointed her the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Women Development.
She was awarded the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) for her contributions to the Nigerian entertainment industry.
Also, she received the award of the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) in 2011.
In 2000, Onwenu protested against her former employer NTA over their refusal to pay royalties on her songs and after then-director general Ben Murray-Bruce blacklisted her from the transmission, she embarked on a hunger strike outside the stations.
Onwenu’s activism attracted widespread support from various artists, including Charly Boy, who lambasted Nigeria’s reluctance to pay royalties when songs are broadcast on television and radio. NTA resolved to settle the issue amicably but denied barring Onwenu from appearing on their channels.
She made a very touching viral BBC short documentary about Nigeria 40 years ago, where she stated that nothing seems to have changed in how we manage our economy, politics, leadership, etc. It’s like Nigeria has been in a cycle since Independence. It was titled, “A Squandering of Riches.”
Onwenu notably keeps her personal life private and often refuses to disclose private information regarding her ex-husband, a Yoruba Muslim, with whom she bore two children – Tijani Charles and Abraham.
Onwenu and Fela Kuti, two iconic figures in Nigerian music, were often the subject of rumours regarding a romantic relationship.
Despite the widespread speculation, Onyeka Onwenu has consistently denied any romantic involvement with Fela Kuti.
She also said this in a viral podcast
Also, in her autobiography “My Father’s Daughter,” she addressed these rumours directly, clarifying that while she had great respect for Fela and admired his musical talent and activism, their relationship was purely professional and based on mutual respect.
She acknowledged that they collaborated and shared common goals in their advocacy for social and political change in Nigeria, but any suggestions of a romantic relationship were unfounded.
This clarification helped to put the longstanding rumours to rest, focusing attention instead on their significant contributions to Nigerian music and culture.
Onyeka Onwenu had a notable collaboration with King Sunny Ade, one of Nigeria’s most celebrated musicians.
Their professional relationship was marked by the release of the hit song “Wait for Me” in 1984, which became a significant success in Nigeria.
“Wait for Me” was more than just a song; it was part of a public health campaign aimed at promoting responsible family planning and safe sex.
The duet highlighted the chemistry between Onwenu and Sunny Ade, blending her soulful voice with his distinctive juju music style.
Their collaboration brought attention to important social issues and showcased the power of music as a tool for advocacy and education.

Onyeka was a singer, songwriter, actress, human rights and social activist, journalist, politician, and former X Factor series judge.
Dubbed the “Elegant Stallion” by the Nigerian press, she is a former chairperson of the Imo State Council for Arts and Culture.
In 2013 she was appointed the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Women Development.
Onwenu hailed from Arondizuogu, a town in Ideato North, Imo State, but was raised in Port Harcourt, the capital city of Rivers State.
She was the youngest daughter of Nigerian educationist and politician D. K. Onwenu, who died when she was four years old in an autocrash a week before his appointment as Minister for Education, leaving his widow, Hope, to raise five children alone.
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, Nigeria.
As an NTA employee, Onwenu made an impact as a newsreader and reporter. In 1984, she wrote and presented the internationally acclaimed BBC/NTA documentary “Nigeria: A Squandering of Riches,” which became the definitive film about corruption in Nigeria, as well as the intractable Niger Delta agitation for resource control and campaign against environmental degradation in the oil rich region of Nigeria.
Originally a secular artist, Onwenu made the transition to gospel music in the 90s, and most of her songs are self-penned.
She began her recording career in 1981 while still with the NTA, releasing the album ‘For the Love of You’, a pop 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 Sonny Okosun, and included another cover – the Everley Brothers’ “Walk Right Back”. Both records were released under the EMI label.
Onwenu’s first album with Polygram, In The Morning Light, was released in 1984. Recorded in London, it featured the track “Masterplan” written by close friend Tyna Onwudiwe who had previously contributed to Onwenu’s BBC documentary and subsequently sang back-up vocals on the album.
In 1986, she released One Love which contained an updated version of the song “(In the) Morning Light from the previous album. Another song, “You and I”, was re-recorded for the 2001 film Conspiracy starring Nkem Owoh and Onwenu herself.
For the 1988 album Dancing In The Sun, Onwenu adopted a more Afrocentric sound and collaborated with veteran jùjú artist Sunny 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, and were endorsed by the Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria who used “Choices” in their PSA.
Dancing In The Sun, Onwenu’s final release on Polygram, was dedicated to Winnie Mandela, the subject of a song of the same name which Onwenu performed live when Nelson Mandela and his wife visited Nigeria in 1990 following his release from prison.
Onwenu diverted to Benson and Hedges Music in 1992 and released the self-titled Onyeka!, her only album with the label, after which she made the transition to Christian/gospel music. Her latest collection, “Inspiration for Change,” focused on the need for an attitudinal change in Nigeria.
Onwenu’s first movie role was as Joke, a childless woman who adopts an abandoned baby in Zik Zulu Okafor’s Nightmare.
She has since featured in numerous Nollywood movies, and in 2006 she won the Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance in the movie “Widow’s Cot”. She was also nominated that same year for Africa Movie Academy Award for “Best Actress in a Leading Role” in the movie “Rising Moon”.
Onwenu was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party. She contested twice to become the Local Council Chairman of her Local Government, Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State, and lost at both attempts but was appointed Chairperson of Imo State Council for Arts and Culture by former governor Ikedi Ohakim. On September 16, 2013, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan appointed her the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Women Development.