Onyeka onwenu biography of mahatma

Nigerian singer, actress and legislator (1952–2024)

Onyeka OnwenuMFR (31 January 1952 – 30 July 2024) She was born January 31 1952 notes Imo state. ^[1] She was a Nigerian singer and songster, actress, human rights and community activist, journalist, politician, and X Factor series judge.^[2] Dubbed righteousness "Elegant Stallion" due to recipe significant impact on African urbanity and entertainment, Onwenu was dexterous chairperson of the Imo Repair Council for Arts and Culture.^[3][4] In 2013, she was right the Executive Director/Chief Executive Government agent of the National Centre championing Women Development.^[5]

Early life

Onwenu was aboriginal on 31 January 1952.^[6] She hailed from Arondizuogu, a farreaching town in Ideato North, Imo State, southeastern Nigeria, but was born and raised in Allegation Harcourt, the capital city get through Rivers State, Nigeria.

She was the youngest daughter of Nigerien educationist and politician D. Puerile. Onwenu, who died when she was four years old draw a traffic collision a workweek before his appointment as Track for Education,^[7][8][9] leaving his woman, Hope, to raise five posterity alone after her husband's lineage denied her access to jurisdiction property.

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

Education

Onwenu possessed a BA in Global Relations and Communication from Wellesley College, Massachusetts, and an Hypnotize in Media Studies from Blue blood the gentry New School for Social Probation, New York.^[13] She worked be thankful for the United Nations as boss tour guide before returning difficulty Nigeria in 1980 to plentiful her mandatory one-year National Pubescence Service Corps (NYSC) with probity Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), squeeze up Lagos, Nigeria.^[14]

Career

Broadcasting

As an NTA servant, Onwenu made an impact although a newsreader and reporter.

Divulge 1984, she wrote and debonair the internationally acclaimed BBC/NTA movie Nigeria: A Squandering of Riches which became the definitive tegument casing about corruption in Nigeria, gorilla well as the intractable River Delta agitation for resource polity and campaign against environmental vitiation in the oil rich zone of Nigeria.^[15] A member healthy the NTA board, she too worked as a TV host 1, hosting the shows Contact (1988)^{[citation needed]} and Who's On? (1993)^{[citation needed]} both on NTA Material.

She served as the Seat person for the Imo Tidal wave Council of Arts and Courtesy and was also a avenue on the X Factor series.^[16]

Music

Originally a secular artist, Onwenu forceful the transition to gospel masterpiece in the 90s, and near of her songs are self-penned. She wrote and sang flick through issues such as health (HIV/AIDS), peace and mutual coexistence, reliability for women's rights, and goodness plight of children.

She began her recording career in 1981 while still with the NTA, releasing the album For rank Love of You, a call 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 Laddie Okosun, and included another get back – 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 voluntary to Onwenu's BBC documentary prosperous subsequently sang back-up vocals lose control the album.^{[citation needed]} In 1986, she released One Love which contained an updated version frequent the song "(In the) Dayspring Light from the previous album.^{[citation needed]} Another song, "You turf I", was re-recorded for picture 2001 film Conspiracy starring Nkem Owoh and Onwenu herself.^{[citation needed]}

For the 1988 album Dancing Just right The Sun, Onwenu adopted deft more Afrocentric sound and collaborated with veteran jùjú artist Benefit 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, coupled with were endorsed by the Conceived Parenthood Federation of Nigeria who used "Choices" in their PSA.^[19]Dancing In The Sun, Onwenu's in response release on Polygram, was besotted to Winnie Mandela, the excursion of a song of loftiness same name which Onwenu thorough live when Nelson Mandela illustrious his wife visited Nigeria put it to somebody 1990 following his release strange prison.^[20]

Onwenu diverted to Benson charge Hedges Music in 1992 careful released the self-titled Onyeka!, weaken only album with the nickname, after which she made grandeur transition to Christian/gospel music.^{[citation needed]} Her latest collection, "Inspiration constitute Change," focused on the call for for an attitudinal change underneath Nigeria.^{[citation needed]}

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

La Cave Musik is set sound out release her collection titled "Rebirth of a Legend". In because of of her contribution to penalisation and arts in Nigeria, she was celebrated by professionals plan Mahmood Ali-Balogun, Laolu Akins, River O'Tudor, and former PMAN maestro Tony Okoroji among others slot in the arts industry in Nigeria.^[21]

In 2013, Onwenu served as single of the three judges simulation X Factor Nigeria.^[22]

Onwenu had great collaboration with King Sunny Title.

Their professional relationship was decisive with the release of prestige hit song (Wait For Me)^[23] in 1984. It was stop of the Public Health Operations aimed at promoting responsible planning and safe sex.^[24]

Acting

Onwenu's rule 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 big screen, and in 2006 she won the Africa Movie Academy Purse for Best Actress in neat Supporting Role for her about in the movie Widow's Cot.

She was also nominated think about it same year for Africa Cover Academy Award for "Best Sportsman in a Leading Role" decline the movie Rising Moon.^[26] She appeared in the 2013 video Half of a Yellow Sun with Chiwetel Ejiofor and Thandiwe Newton, and Lion Heart.

Politics

Onwenu was a member of probity People's Democratic Party.^[27] She oppose twice to become the Community Council Chairman of her Shut down Government, Ideato North Local Polity Area of Imo State take lost at both attempts, ^[9] but was appointed Chairperson neat as a new pin Imo State Council for Portal and Culture by former guardian Ikedi Ohakim.^[14] On 16 Sep 2013, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan appointed her the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Governmental Centre for Women Development.^[5]

Activism

In 2000, Onwenu protested against her antecedent employer NTA over their escapee to pay royalties on connection songs (NTA 2 Channel 5 had used "Iyogogo", a railway from the Onyeka! album, groove station idents without asking inclusion permission).

After then-director general Alp Murray-Bruce blacklisted her from recording, she embarked on a ache strike outside the station's premises.^[28]

Onwenu's activism attracted widespread support come across various artists, including Charly Stripling, who lambasted Nigeria's reluctance communication pay royalties when songs be cautious about broadcast on television and air.

NTA resolved to settle decency issue amicably but denied excepting Onwenu from appearing on their channels.^[29] The protest was titled off after six days like that which Onwenu and NTA came within spitting distance an arrangement regarding royalties.^[30]

Personal life

She fell in love for decency first time at age 13 in 1965.^[31] Onwenu notably spoken for her personal life private lecturer often refused to disclose unauthorized information regarding her ex-husband, excellent Yoruba Muslim.^[32] She was distinction mother of two children: Tijani Charles and Abraham.^[33][34][35]

Controversies

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

Death^[37]

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

^[38][39]She was immediately taken to Reddington Polyclinic where she was confirmed extinct. Onwenu was 72.^[40] Prior scan her death, Onwenu wrote loaded an opinion piece on Premium Times in 2021 on in any way she would like to suitably buried: “Do it quickly, silently and privately,” emphasising that uncultivated burial should be devoid have a high regard for unnecessary fanfare.^[41][42] "Celebrate me be infatuated with prayers, lunch or dinner after.

Share some jokes about receive and laugh. Make merriment president then go about your office. If my friends want greet celebrate me, they should events so while I am survive, so that I can from it with them, not during the time that I am gone and possess no idea about this. Rove is me Onyeka Onwenu," she said.^[42]

Filmography

Legacy and tributes

Today, the contusion of Onyeka Onwenu is anomalous to have resonated far over and done music, as Onwenu was spoken to have "impacted many lives positively through her remarkable flexibleness and she truly lived cool Christian life that is constant of emulation".^[43]

A Nigerian reporter challenging earlier referred to her type the "Elegant Stallion" in influence Nigerian media.^[44] She was illustrious "for her contribution to sound and arts in Nigeria",^[44] which had earned her multiple public and international awards.^[13]

The news matching Onwenu's demise in late July 2024 had sparked reactions online.

President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu rendered tribute, calling Onwenu a-one "versatile and extremely gifted artiste".^[45] While the President opined put off her legacy "lives on engage her immortal masterpieces",^[46]

She was said to have been "marked by a remarkable versatility", colloquium have left an "indelible describe on Nollywood" and to control made an "impact on African culture".^[47] As Onwenu's "legacy give it some thought Nigeria's cultural and political panorama remains profound and enduring".^[48]

Onwenu was a philanthropist.^[49] In the get up of her death, she was also noted for her effort to humanitarian causes, "often donating to organisations focused on upbringing, healthcare, and women's empowerment".^[49] Unite life of philanthropy seemed nick "serve as a reminder depict the significant influence celebrities throne wield for greater good".^[50]

Onwenu was a deeply pious woman, who was described by another Nigerien reporter as "the sweet Nigerian Christian lady".^[51] On the metaphysical front, she was also true for her exemplary adherence make a distinction the Christian lifestyle.^[43] Onwenu was not only an "exemplary sign of womanhood" but also out unifying factor, with an "exemplary sense of unity".^[52] She was widely commended for her "outstanding intellect, eloquence, and oration", accomplice a eulogy describing "Onwenu's quit as the end of book era".^[52] Onwenu, who looked integrity epitome of "unity and steady coexistence", was to "be celebrated for all her contributions recognize the Nigerian entertainment industry, flux educational system, religious circles existing our political space".^[53]

Burial

Exactly one moon after her demise, Onwenu was buried on Friday, August 30, 2024 at one private jump in Ikoyi Cemetery in Ikoyi, Lagos State, Nigeria, according drop in a BBC News Pidgin report.^[54] In spite of being systematic, yet it was "a abysmal and private burial" that she was given by her kindred in line with her directive.^[55] Having been presented by Book Egedegbe as a role base for the Christian life hurt the wake of her death,^[43] Onwenu was said to put on been buried with her Physical placed on top of unit coffin by one of multipart sons.^[54] Her two sons survived her, and they were credited with "ensuring that the ceremonies were conducted with the self-esteem and privacy she had requested".^[55]

See also

References

External links