Whenever you discuss women and music in the Nigeria, one name stands out, not because of the rthymic flow of her songs but the inspirational undertone that comes with the genre of music she produces which has made her unique and consistent over time.
That woman is no one else but Nigeria's Queen of Africa pop music, Onyeka Onwenu.
Onyeka Onwenu is a house hold name in the
Nigerian music industry, a brand that knows her onion and has carved a niche
for herself in the Nigerian Entertainment Industry which has been stereotyped
as a 'Macho Industry'. Her feat in the last 30years in the industry cannot
be overemphasized owing to the number of hit tracks released, which include
'Tetanun'Ula", "One Love", "Iyogogo",
"Peace" and "Wait for me" which she sang with Sunny Ade and
several awards won in the movie scene such as: the African Movie Academy Award
for Best Actress in a supporting role.
At 53 (May 17, 1961), she is still waxing
stronger with her exhilarating voice which still sounds evergreen and the
enchanting smiles on her face which daze you first at the sight of her on
stage. Her elegance, vigor and style set her on the class of African women
leaders.
Onyeka Onwenu is a woman of many parts; a
journalist, singer/songwriter, actress, social critic, a philanthropist and a
politician all rolled in one. She started her broadcasting career in the 80s
and proceeded in singing, acting and was also one of the activities she enjoys
most and as such, featured as a lead actress in the following home
video: conspiracy, women's cot, Government House to mention but a few,
which up till today are reference movies in the Nollywood family. She is a
grassroots mobiliser, an advocate for women empowerment and gender equality.
Onyeka who lost her father at the tender age of
four never relented in the pursuit of her career of being who and what she
wanted to become in life. This serves as a lesson to all who have lost their
fathers and think all went with him. Onyeka's mum who happened to be a
disciplinarian, tough, with high integrity made sure she adequately provided
for her fatherless children to ensure they became responsible citizens in
future.
She was struck by the sudden death of her beloved
mum and only brother in the last quarter of 2011. At that point, many thought
she would retire from music but as an elegant stallion, Onyeka Onwenu put her
emotions and energies into work and returned with 3 videos in 7months which
were off her latest album THE LEGEND RELOADED, which she vowed to use the
proceeds from the sale of the CD for donation to church building.
Touching lives through music is a common
philosophy she expresses in the peculiar leadership roles she has played in the
entertainment industry for about three decades. To her, music is wonderfully
the rapeutic which can be used to uplift the soul of the downtrodden especially
the women folks in Nigeria.
Onyeka who has always desired to improve the
standard of living of the people at the grassroots ventured into politics in
2002, where she contested for the chairmanship seat for Ideato North in Imo
State and lost her first try.
Presently, she is the chairperson of the Imo
State Council for Arts and Culture.
EDUCATION AND AWARDS:
She is a graduate of Wellesley College, Wellesley
Massachusetts and the New School for Social Research in New York, where she
obtained a B.A in International Relations and Communications and a Masters
Degree in Media Studies respectively.
In 1988, she was awarded with the Musician
Association Best pop Artist for the year.
In 2006, she won the African Movie Academy Award
for Best Actress in a supporting role.
In May 2013, the veteran singer was announced by
one of Nigerian telecoms giant Glo, as one of the judges for X Factor 2013, the
world's biggest singing reality TV show, which the company has brought to
Africa for the first time.
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