Breaking: How Top Nigerian Music Legend, Onyeka Onwenu died in Lagos

The legendary Nigerian singer and songwriter Onyeka Onwenu, whose songs dominated the radio in the 1980s and 1990s, has passed away. Following her performance at a birthday party in Lagos on Tuesday night, Onwenu collapsed and passed away. She was seventy-two years old.

Onwenu, who was referred to as the graceful stallion by the Nigerian media at her peak music career, passed away tragically at Reddington Hospital in Lagos, where she had been taken just hours after singing at Mrs. Stella Okoli of Emzor Pharmaceuticals' birthday celebration. An eyewitness claimed that the famous singer sank back into her seat after leaving the stage. She was immediately taken to Reddington Hospital in Victoria by emergency personnel.

It is really depressing. After playing at Mrs. Stella Okoli's birthday celebration today, Onyeka Onwenu slumped. The eyewitness stated, "She was taken to Reddington Hospital and she couldn't make it."

The cause of her death is yet to be ascertain.

Onwenu, a versatile artist and activist whose music dominated the radio for four decades, was born on January 31, 1952. She was a social and human rights activist in addition to being a singer, composer, actress, and presenter. She also served as the Imo State Council for Arts and Culture's previous chair. She was named the National Center for Women Development's Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer in 2013.

Onwenu was born in Ideato North, Imo State, at Arondizuogu, but grew up in Port Harcourt.

Her father, D. K. Onwenu, was a politician and educationist from Nigeria. He passed away in an auto accident when she was four years old, one week before he was appointed Minister of Education. Of the five children, she was the youngest.

Onyeka Onwenu earned an MA in Media Studies from The New School for Social Research in New York, and a bachelor's degree in International Relations and Communication from Wellesley College in Massachusetts.

She was employed by the UN as a tour guide before going back to Nigeria in 1980 to complete the one-year national youth service requirement.

While still a member of the NTA, Onwenu launched her musical career in 1981 with the release of the pop album For the Love of You, which included an orchestral rendition of Johnny Nash's "Hold Me Tight" under the production of Berkley Jones.

Her second album Endless Life featured a cover of "Walk Right Back" by the Everley Brothers and was produced by Sonny Okosun. EMI published both records on their label.

Onwenu's London-recorded debut album with Polygram, In the Morning Light, was nevertheless released in 1984. The song "Masterplan," penned by close friend Tyna Onwudiwe, was featured. Throughout her more than 40-year career, Onwenu was well-known for her hit songs, including "You and I" and "Wait for Me," which she co-wrote with renowned juju musician.

In Zik Zulu Okafor's Nightmare, Onwenu made her screen debut as an actress as Joke, a childless mother who takes in an abandoned baby. She had multiple appearances in Nollywood films. Her portrayal in the film "Widow's Cot" earned her the 2006 Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.

In addition, she received a nomination for the Africa Movie Academy Award in the same year for the film "Rising Moon"'s "Best Actress in a Leading Role." She starred alongside Thandiwe Newton and Chiwetel Ejiofor in the 2014 films Lion Heart and Half of a Yellow Sun. When Onwenu protested against her old company NTA in 2000 because they were not paying royalties for her songs, she created a commotion. 

Without her consent, NTA 2 Channel 5 utilized the song "Iyogogo" from the Onyeka! album in their station idents. She went on a hunger strike outside the station after Director General Ben Murray-Bruce banned her from transmission at that point. After six days, the protest was called off when Onwenu and NTA reached a royalty agreement.