Three years ago, veteran Nigerian singer and actress Onyeka Onwenu outlined her intentions for how she wanted to be remembered and buried.
The legendary artist, known for her loud voice and advocacy, died on Tuesday night at Reddington Hospital in Lagos after collapsing at Mrs. Stella Okoli’s birthday party.
“Do it quickly, quietly, and privately,” Onwenu stated in an opinion piece on Premium Times in 2021, emphasising that her burial should be sans unnecessary fanfare.
She instructed her loved ones to “mourn, yes, but not excessively,” and to instead focus on celebrating her life with prayers and lighthearted 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.
“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, calling for more modest and meaningful ways to honour the deceased.
The veteran singer had a multifaceted career, working in music, film, advocacy, journalism, and politics.
Until her demise, she held various roles, including chairing the Imo State Council for Arts and Culture and judging on the X Factor series.
Her music and writings have received widespread recognition, including renowned songs such as ‘One Love‘ and ‘You and I’. She is also the author of ‘My Father’s Daughter,’ an autobiography.
