Late Onyeka Onwenu
Veteran Nigerian singer and actress Onyeka Onwenu had earlier revealed how she wants to be buried when she dies during an interview with Premium Times.
Onyeka passed away on Tuesday night at Reddington Hospital in Lagos. She collapsed earlier that evening at the birthday party of Mrs. Stella Okoli.
Three years ago, Onwenu shared her wishes for how she wanted to be remembered and buried. In a reflection published in Premium Times in 2021, she emphasized the need for a quick, quiet, and private burial.
“Do it quickly, quietly and privately,” Onwenu wrote, expressing her desire for a simple ceremony without unnecessary fanfare. She asked her loved ones to mourn her but not excessively. Instead, she wanted them to focus on celebrating her life with prayers and light-hearted moments.
“Celebrate me with prayers, lunch or dinner afterwards. Share some jokes about me and laugh. Make merriment and then go about your business. If my friends want to celebrate me, they should do so while I am alive, so that I can enjoy it with them, not when I am gone and have no idea about this. That is me, Onyeka Onwenu,” she said.
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Onwenu also criticized the lavish displays of wealth often seen at Nigerian burials. She pointed out the extravagant funeral of Obi Cubana’s mother, which had sparked widespread debate. “I am very uncomfortable with the lavish display of wealth on any occasion, especially in a time of hardship and lack for most others,” she remarked, advocating for more modest and meaningful ways to honor the deceased.
Onwenu had a multifaceted career, excelling in music, film, advocacy, journalism, and politics. She chaired the Imo State Council for Arts and Culture and served as a judge on the X Factor series. Her notable songs include ‘One Love’ and ‘You and I’. She also authored an autobiography titled ‘My Father’s Daughter’.
Her powerful voice, activism, and contributions to the arts have left a lasting legacy, and her wishes for a simple and meaningful farewell reflect the humility and depth of her character.