Onyeka Onwenu

EARLY LIFE

Onyeka Onwenu was born on 31 January 1952 in Obosi, Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria (now Anambra State). She hailed from Arondizuogu, a town in Ideato North, Imo State, southeastern Nigeria, but was raised in Port Harcourt, the capital city of Rivers State. She was the youngest daughter of Nigerian educationist and politician D. K. Onwenu, who died in a traffic collision when she was four years old, just a week before his appointment as Minister for Education; her mother, Hope, raised the five children alone after being denied access to her husband's property by his family. Onwenu earned a BA in International Relations and Communication from Wellesley College, Massachusetts, and an MA in Media Studies from The New School for Social Research, New York

PERSONAL LIFE

Onwenu fell in love for the first time at age 13 in 1965. She kept her personal life private, refusing to disclose details about her ex-husband, a Yoruba Muslim. She was the mother of two sons, Tijani Charles and Abraham. A pious Christian, she exemplified unity and peaceful coexistence.

CAREER

Onwenu was a multifaceted Nigerian singer-songwriter, actress, broadcaster, journalist, politician, human rights and social activist, and X Factor judge, known as the "Elegant Stallion." She began her broadcasting career as a newsreader and reporter for the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), later serving on its board and hosting shows like Contact (1988) and Who's On? (1993). In 1984, she wrote and presented the BBC/NTA documentary Nigeria. Her music career started in 1981 with the album For the Love of You, followed by Endless Life (1982), In The Morning Light (1984), One Love (1986), Dancing In The Sun (1988), Onyeka! (1992), and later gospel works like "Inspiration for Change." In acting, she debuted in Nightmare and appeared in films like Widow's Cot (2006, winning Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role), Rising Moon (nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role), Half of a Yellow Sun (2013), Lion Heart (2018),