By Paul Ejime
The remains of Onyeka Onwenu, Nigeria’s renowned singer, songwriter, actress, social justice advocate and journalist were laid to rest at the Ikoyi cemetery in Lagos after a solemn funeral service on the 31st of August.
It is an understatement that Onyeka 72, accomplished great exploits in her chosen fields and left indelible marks on the African music, culture and entertainment industry.
Unknown to many are Onyeka’s sacrifices and selfless services in the promotion and improvement of public health in rural Africa.
From early 2000, she accompanied global health teams led by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Prof Uche Amazigo for advocacy and to sensitise poor and difficult-to-reach communities on the fight against river blindness in West Africa, including Nigerian states.
Onyeka willingly spent nights in bugs and cockroach-infested rooms during visits to rural communities, where she encouraged and sang for poor families free of charge as part of her contributions and advocacy for good health.
Her galvanising songs inspired impactful actions toward elimination of the river blindness and enabled farmers to resume cultivation in fertile river basins for improved food security in the affected communities in Nigeria’s Benue, Kogi, Taraba and Kaduna states, and in Burkina Faso.
Until her death, Onyeka never declined any requests or invitations to use her talent to promote the health and well-being of Africa’s rural populations free of charge.
For effective control of river blindness also known as onchocerciasis, people in endemic communities were required to take the control drug Ivermectin once a year for about 14 years.
The WHO through its African programme for River blindness control (APOC) and the predecessor onchocerciasis control programme (OCP), achieved the feat of scaling the campaign from control to elimination, thereby making the river blindness programme one of the most successful health interventions in Africa.
This could not have been possible without the resilience of the health workers and the contributions of non-state actors such as Onyeka Onwenu, her friend and fellow music icon Amity Ameria of Burkina Faso.
A patriotic advocate for the poor and an irrepressible voice for the voiceless, Onyeka touched many lives in her eventful and versatile career.
Her autobiography My Father’s Daughter released in 2020 is a no holds barred, that chronicled Onyeka’s life as a musician, activist, wife, mother, and politician, her formative contact with feminism and how her father’s life influenced her decisions and character as an independent woman.
In the book, Onyeka explained how her political philosophy took after the exemplary foundation laid by her father, Dixon Kanu (DK) Onwenu, who cared deeply about the development of Nigeria when politics was not a means to ill-gotten wealth.
Onyeka’s songs evoked affection, empathy, love, unity, and taught tolerance and peaceful human co-existence.
That the diva chose to be laid to rest in Lagos, hundreds of kilometres from her native Imo State, speaks volumes for her cosmopolitan disposition.
Onyeka’s patriotism and love for Nigeria shone throughout the book. Little wonder it was officially released on October 1st to coincide with the Day of country’s 60th Independence anniversary.
She narrated her transition from a musician to an actress, and provided a rare peep into her private life, her marriage, the challenges faced by women and her resolve never to allow others to define or validate her life.
Onyeka’s wish for a low-key funeral did not stop the outpouring of love and eulogies for a humanitarian affectionately called the “Elegant Stallion.”
The funeral service was attended by family, friends, and colleagues from the entertainment industry.
Dignitaries included former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s flag-bearer in the 2023 presidential election and Abia state governor Alex Otti.
On behalf of Onyeka’s numerous friends from the health community (WHO/APOC, OCP, PACIEH and MITOSATH in West Africa, we mourn our dear sister with a big heart for the poor and at the same time, take solace in the immortality of the abiding legacies of her invaluable service to God and humanity.
Adieu Onyeka!
For and on behalf of Health Community Friends/Colleagues
