Onyeka Onwenu was born on May 17, 1952, in Arondizuogu, Imo State, Nigeria, to politician D. K. Onwenu. Tragically, she lost her father in a car accident when she was just four years old.
She attended Wellesley College in Massachusetts, USA, earning a BA in International Relations and Communication. She also obtained a Master’s in Media Studies from The New School for Social Research in New York.
Diverse Career
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- United Nations: Onyeka worked for the United Nations in New York before returning to Nigeria in 1980.
- Broadcasting: She completed her mandatory one-year National Service at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and began her music career while still working there.
- Music: She released her debut album “For the Love of You” in 1981. She collaborated with King Sunny Ade on the popular tracks “Mada wolohun,” “Wait for Me,” and “Choices.”
- Television: In 2013, she became one of the judges on the Nigerian version of The X Factor.
- Politics: Onyeka joined the People’s Democratic Party and was appointed Imo State Council for Arts and Culture Chairperson. In 2013, President Goodluck Jonathan appointed her as the Executive Director and CEO of the National Centre for Women Development.
- Acting Career and Awards
- Acting: Onyeka appeared in numerous Nigerian movies. She won the African Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in 2006.
- Notable Film: In 2014, she starred in “Half of a Yellow Sun” alongside Chiwetel Ejiofor and Thandie Newton.
- Authorship and Advocacy
- Memoir: Onyeka authored a memoir titled “My Father’s Daughter.”
- Legacy: She remained a cultural icon in Nigeria and was celebrated for her contributions to music, acting, advocacy, and leadership in various social spheres.
Death
Onyeka Onwenu died on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, at Reddington Hospital in Lagos. She reportedly collapsed after performing at Mrs. Stella Okoli’s birthday party.
