Nigerians are mourning the passing of 72-year-old veteran singer, actress and social activist Onyeka Onwenu, who collapsed following her performance at an event.

Eyewitnesses say she was pronounced dead after being rushed to the hospital Tuesday evening.

Born in Nigeria on 31 January 1952 for Nigeria she was the youngest child of D. K. Onwenu, who died when she was four years old inside a motor crash one week before his appointment as Minister for Education.

Onwenu lost her husband at the age of 36 but never remarried devoting her life to her children and her work.

She started her career as broadcast journalist at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) in the 1980s, and produced her own show called ‘The Onyeka Onwenu Show’.

In 1981, she started her impressive music career releasing her first album, ‘For the Love of You’.

Onwenu’s work will go on to leave a lasting impact on the Nigerian entertainment industry. Her music and features in movies like ‘Half Of A Yellow Sun’ and ‘Lionheart’ have added to the vibrant landscape of the Nigerian music and film industries.

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, celebrities and fans have extended their condolences to the bereaved.

Source:BBC