CommunityNewsNigeriaOnyeka Onwenu Set Guidelines For Her Burial

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Veteran Nigerian singer and actress Onyeka Onwenu who died on Tuesday night at the Reddington Hospital in Lagos after slumping at the birthday party of Mrs Stella Okoli has written her wishes for how she would like to be remembered and buried.

The iconic artist, known for her powerful voice and activism had a multifaceted career, working in music, film, advocacy, journalism, and politics.

Onwenu wrote in an opinion piece on Premium Times in 2021, “Do it quickly, quietly and privately,” emphasizing that her burial should be devoid of unnecessary fanfare.

She called for more modest and meaningful ways to honour the deceased, “I am very uncomfortable with the lavish display of wealth on any occasion, especially in a time of hardship and lack for most others”.

Onwenu urged her loved ones to “mourn, yes but not excessively,” and to instead focus on celebrating her life with prayers and light-hearted moments.

She said: “Celebrate me with prayers, lunch or dinner afterward. Share some jokes about me and laugh.

“Make merriment and then go about your business. If my friends want to celebrate with 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”.

Onwenu, who condemned the lavish display of wealth often seen at Nigerian burials, contrasted her wishes with the extravagant funeral of Obi Cubana’s mother, which sparked widespread debate across the country.

She will be remembered for her various roles, including chairing the Imo State Council for Arts and Culture and judging on the X Factor series.

Her music and writings have been widely recognized, notable songs include ‘One Love’ and ‘You and I’. She is also the author of the book ‘My Father’s Daughter,’ an autobiography.

Hassan Umar Shallpella (Regional Correspondent)

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