Onyeka Onwenu is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, actress, human right activist, social activist, and was a judge at the Nigeria x-factor and a politician born on May 17th, 1952, and from Arondizuogu, a small town in Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State in the southeastern part of Nigeria. She is the youngest daughter of the Nigerian educationist and politician D.K Onwenu. She was dubbed the “Elegant Stallion” by the Nigerian press. She was the former chairperson of the Imo State Council for Arts and Culture and currently the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Women Development.
Onyeka Onwenu began her music career in 1981 while still working in NTA, releasing the album “For the Love of You”. Originally a secular artist, she now sings mainly gospel music and continues to write and sing about issues such as health (HIV/AIDS), peace and mutual coexistence, respect for women rights and the plight of children. Her latest collection titled, “Inspiration for Change,” focused on the need for an attitudinal turn around in Nigeria.
She is in partnership with Paris-based La Cave Musik, headed by a Nigerian cultural entrepreneur, Onyeka Nwelue and a UK-based Jungle Entertainment Ventures, headed by musicologist David Evans-Uhegbu. La Cave Musik is set to release her collection titled “Rebirth of a Legend”.
In 2013, she was named as one of the three judges on the Nigerian version of The X Factor. In recognition of her contribution to music and arts in Nigeria, she has been celebrated by professionals like Mahmood Ali-Balogun, Laolu Akins, Charles O’Tudor, and former PMAN president Tony Okoroji among others in the arts industry in Nigeria.
Onyeka Onwenu has featured in numerous Nollywood movies and in 2006 she won the African Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, In 2014. She was in the movie Half of a Yellow Sun with Chiwetel Ejiofor and Thandie Newton.
Some of her movies include Women’s Cot, The Tyrant, Rising Moon, Half of a Yellow Sun, Lionheart and several others.
Here’s a list of some of her songs.
Iyogogo, Odenigbo, African Woman, Chibuzor, Mama Peace, Living Music, One Love, Ochie Dike, You and I, Alleluya, African Woman, Egwu Ekene, Turmi, My World, Mama Africa and several others.
Onyeka Onwenu is no doubt a living legend, her evergreen love songs still continue to serenade us.