Ultimately, life is a journey — a movement from the state of being, to the state of non-being. It is a non-negotiable pact that we have signed to come into existence and cease to exist as destiny and time decides.
However, some of us will be lucky enough to leave a legacy that will transcend our meagre threescore years and ten; our names will echo through the great walls of history and survive for a couple more decades before the sun set on our time within the universal consciousness.
By the time we leave, it won’t be a sad end but a glorious celebration of life. Onyeka Onwenu lived a great life — one that impacted thousands of people in significant ways. She touched souls with her music, and she fought the good, worthy and noble fight. In the sprit of celebrating and icon, here are 10 things you don’t know about Onyeka Onwenu.
1. Music Transition
Onyeka Onwenu was originally a secular artist. She began her music career in the early 1980s with the release of her debut album, “For the Love of You.” In the 1990s, Onyeka left the secular scene and transitioned to gospel music, releasing several albums under her Gospel artistry
2. Acting Career
Onyeka Onwenu ventured into acting at a point in her life. She was able to reach stardom with appearances in major movies like ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’ — an adaptation of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s novel— in 2014. Other movies she appeared on were ‘God Calling’ (2018), ‘Lionheart’ (2018), and “Obara’m“ (2022)
3. Noble Roots
Onyeka Onwenu 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.
4. Short Career Stint at United Nations
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)
5. Nickname
She is dubbed the "Elegant Stallion" due to her significant impact on African culture and entertainment
6. Dancing in the Sun
Dancing In The Sun, Onwenu's final release on her debut album “Polygram”, was dedicated to Winnie Mandela, which she performed live when Nelson Mandela and his wife visited Nigeria in 1990 following his release from prison
7. Academic Qualification
She possessed a BA in International Relations and Communications from Wellesley College, Massachusetts and an MA in Media Studies from The New School for Social Research, New York.
8. BBC Documentary
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
9. Controversy
She participated in the 1998 controversial campaign for Nigerian dictator Gen Sani Abacha alongside other high-profile musicians like Salawu Abeni and Sir Shina Peters
Nigeria and Africa as a whole have lost an Icon. One whose impact was felt across the continent. In this difficult times, we offer our condolences to the entire continent of Africa. The Elegant Stallion has gone home to rest, and may she enjoy an everlasting and peaceful rest.
