On July 30, 2024, Nigeria lost an icon. She was a mesmerizing musician and songwriter, a captivating actress, a tenacious journalist and reporter, a fearless activist, and let’s not forget… a fashion trailblazer! She made low cuts and bold lipstick choices undeniably cool. Like she was popularly called, she was truly an elegant stallion.
We grew up vibing to her classics like “Wait for Me”, “You & I” and “Ekwe,” but Onyeka Onwenu was more than a musician. Her voice was her most powerful weapon, not just for singing, but for activism.
Onyeka’s passing made me reflect deeply. I always knew she was born and bred in Port Harcourt, my city. But after her death, I realised we must have walked the same streets, although decades apart, and breathed the same air, although years apart. Fun fact: her father and my mother were principals of the same school in Port Harcourt – again, just at different eras.
It’s fascinating how lives intertwine. We often forget that even people we’ve never met can affect our lives one way or the other and that every bit of what we enjoy today was fought for by those who came before us. Sometimes, just pausing to recognise that, is gratitude enough. Today, we’re paying tribute to one of those trailblazers who fought for creatives and artists’ rights in Nigeria long before many of us knew we were going to grow up to be creatives.
That person is none other than the late Onyeka Onwenu.
She once said, “The younger artistes who are now enjoying the huge amounts of money that they are making from the music industry have really not said thank you to those of us who worked, protested, went on strike, spent extra hours, our own money organising our unions and even getting barred from airplay.”
Onyeka Onwenu was not only a celebrated musician and actress but also a tireless advocate for artists’ rights in Nigeria. Her commitment to ensuring fair treatment and compensation for artists set her apart as a significant figure in the fight for intellectual property rights.
One of the most remarkable demonstrations of her advocacy was her one-woman protest and hunger strike outside the gates of NTA, then Channel 5 in 2000. This protest was sparked by the station’s refusal to pay royalties for her song “Iyogogo,” which was used as one of the station’s idents. Onyeka’s decision to stage this protest was driven by a broader concern for the welfare of artists in Nigeria. She highlighted that many artists were living in poverty despite their significant contributions to the industry.
“I intend to stay on this hunger strike until this issue is resolved because it is of enormous importance… We find that the entertainment industry is suffering. Many artists have no pension, they’re dying of hunger.” She said this when asked why she was protesting.
Her protest did not only focus on her personal grievances but also brought attention to the broader issues facing the entertainment industry, including the lack of proper compensation and recognition for artists.
Onyeka was deeply involved with the Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN) and the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON). Her work with these organisations was instrumental in the fight against piracy and the push for better copyright laws and enforcement. She, along with other prominent artists like King Sunny Ade and Sonny Okosun played a key role in establishing music companies to support the industry after international labels left Nigeria.
“When Sony Music, CBS, Polygram, Ivory Music left Nigeria, it was people like me, Sunny Ade, Christy Igbokwe, Sunny Okosun that started music companies and began investing in the industry and that is how the music industry survived.” -Onyeka Onwenu
Onwenu’s efforts have left a lasting impact on the Nigerian entertainment industry. Her advocacy for artists’ rights helped to bring about a greater awareness of the importance of intellectual property rights and the need for fair compensation. Her legacy as an advocate continues to inspire new generations of artists to fight for their rights and ensure the sustainability of the industry.
Onyeka Onwenu’s death was iconic. I think she died exactly as she would have loved to. Loudly and with a bang, after a powerful performance – after using her most priced possession, her voice.
As Onyeka herself said in an interview with Premium Times in 2021 on how she wants to be buried – “Do it quickly, quietly and privately…mourn, but not excessively… Celebrate me with prayers, lunch or dinner afterwards. Share some jokes about me and laugh.”
It’s only fair that we do as the Stallion has instructed. So, the moment you’re done reading this article, you know what to do. Go have brunch, lunch or dinner somewhere nice to celebrate that we were so privileged to have witnessed the wonder that is Onyeka Onwenu.
Act accordingly!
