Losing Her father, Surviving the Civil War: How Onyeka Onwenu Became an Icon Against All odds
Onyeka Onwenu, affectionately known as the “Elegant Stallion” by the Nigerian press, holds a revered status across various fields, from music and movies to journalism, activism, and public service.
Having walked gracefully through various walks of life and leaving awe-inspiring achievements in all, the news of Onyeka Onwenu’s death has thrown a wave of shock and sadness across Nigeria.
According to various sources, the veteran Nigerian singer, songwriter, and actress collapsed after singing at the birthday party of Stella Okoli, owner of Emzor Pharmaceuticals, on Tuesday, July 30. Although she was rushed to the hospital, she was later pronounced dead.
From Losing Her Father to Surviving the Biafran War: A Hint into Onwenu’s Background
The expansive life and area of impact Onwenu left behind will undoubtedly outlive her 72 years of existence.
Born on January 31, 1952, four years before her father’s death, Dickson Kanu Onwenu, a Nigerian politician who represented Port Harcourt at the Federal House of Representatives, Onwenu was raised by her mother, Hope, along with four siblings.
Life for young Onwenu changed drastically. Not just the shock of her father’s sudden death in a car crash a week before he was to be appointed Minister of Education, Onwenu grew up witnessing her mother denied access to her husband’s assets by relatives.
Barely six months after her 15th birthday, Onwenu was thrown into an entirely different kind of life with the outbreak of the Nigerian civil war.
The Nigerian civil war, often regarded as the Biafran war, is still regarded as one of Nigeria’s darkest days, with an estimated three million people losing their lives, mainly due to hunger. The two-and-a-half-year war, fought between July 1967 and January 1970, saw lives taken, families displaced, and possessions lost.
As with many in the old Eastern Region, which included Port Harcourt, where Onwenu was raised, her family faced the brunt of the war.
In an interview with Neusroom in 2020, Onwenu shared bits of her life growing up and the challenges she faced.
“There was instability, there was war, and all that it entailed – death, bloodshed, hunger, and deprivation, disease, and sickness. My family lost every material comfort and possession,” she told Neusroom.
“Fortunately, we had land on which to grow food. The war front was just a short distance off. We saw death and suffering around us. But God spared our lives. Many died.”
After the war and as life returned to normal, Onwenu’s venture that would see her touch different areas of career and service began.
From Music to Activism to Public Service: The Life Onyeka Onwenu Led Will Remain
It is safe to describe Onwenu as a superwoman who defied odds, led a pioneering role, and left legacies of accomplishment in any facet of life she ventured into.
From a fulfilling career in music, film, journalism, and life of activism, indeed, the Elegant Stallion had lots of ventures.
Onwenu’s multifaceted life, transitioning across various sectors, began in 1980 when she returned to Nigeria to complete her compulsory one-year National Youth Service Corps with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) after working at the United Nations in New York.
As a newsreader and reporter with Nigeria’s state-owned television, she made a significant impact and would gain 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.
Although 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, her love for music perhaps stems from her childhood.
“I think I began to sing as soon as I could speak. My mum was a singer, and everybody knew that singing was something I was going to do,” she told Neusroom shortly before the launch of her memoir, ‘My Father’s Daughter’.
With several albums, including “Endless Life,” “One Love,” and “In the Morning Light,” Onyeka Onwenu’s professional musical career began around 1981 with the release of her debut album “For the Love of You,” which was produced by Sunny Okosun.
Through her music, often shaped by experiences, Onwenu tells everyday Nigerian struggles. For instance, the devastating Biafran war influenced one of her songs, ‘Bia Nulu’, released in 1986, 16 years after the conflict.
Read: Onyeka Onwenu on ‘My Father’s Daughter’ and trauma of the civil war that have remained with her
An Entertainer Who Touched Lives Through Music and Movies
From a tender age, Onyeka Onwenu has been an entertainer. Even during the thick of the Nigerian war, she remembered singing “to make everybody dance and forget the rigors of war” with her sister and cousin.
Onyeka Onwenu’s talents extended far beyond music, as she made a lasting impact on the Nigerian film industry. Her acting career took off with a poignant role in Zik Zulu Okafor’s “Nightmare.”
Onwenu continued to shine on the big screen, delivering memorable performances in critically acclaimed films like “Half of a Yellow Sun” (2014) and “Lion Heart” (2018), solidifying her status as a versatile and beloved Nigerian icon.
Throughout her acting career, her performances earned her numerous accolades, including the 2006 Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for “Widow’s Cot.”
In activism, Onwenu used her voice to comment on social issues and push for better reforms. As a women’s rights activist, she continued to advocate for better rights, saying in 2020 that she believed “not enough progress had been made in advancing women’s rights.”
Having achieved feats across her different ventures, from music to film and journalism, Onwenu was honored with the Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) award in 2003 by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, recognising her outstanding contributions to the nation.
Her achievements continued to receive accolades, including the National Council for Arts and Culture Award in 2009, celebrating her indelible mark on music and cultural administration. In 2010, she was bestowed with the “Nigerian Woman of Distinction” Award during Nigeria’s 50th Independence Anniversary Celebration, presented by First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan.
Onyeka Onwenu will forever be revered as a cultural icon, celebrated for her groundbreaking music, captivating acting, and unwavering commitment to social justice.
No doubt, her passing on July 30, 2024, at the age of 72, leaves a void in the hearts of Nigerians, but her impact will continue to inspire generations to come.
