Woman Crush Sunday: Onyeka Onwenu

 

This is Onyeka Onwenu, fondly called the Elegant Stallion by the Nigerian media.  Onyeka Onwenu born on 31 January 1952 is a Nigerian singer/songwriter, actress, human right activist, social activist, journalist, politician, and former X Factor series judge. The  68 years old lady of songs hails from Arondizuogu from Ideato North local government area of Imo state, she is the youngest daughter in a family of seven. This Icon had a challenging childhood, she lost her father, Dickson Kanu Onwenu, at age 4 and 10 months, and was single handedly raised by her mother who was denied access to her husband's property in fact her album _one love_was inspired by her mother. She says that learning from her mother, Hope Onwenu certain behavioural patterns, has made her the confident woman that she is today.

 

Although bred in Port-Harcourt, she completed her primary and secondary school education in Anambra State, she got her B.A degree in International relations and communications from Wellsley College, Massachusetts and her Master's degree in media Studies from the New school for Social research, New York. She returned to Nigeria in 1980 for her mandatory (NYSC) scheme and worked with NTA as an articulated newsreader and reporter.

 As a broadcaster/jornalist, she wrote and presented the internationally acclaimed documentary titled Squandering of Riches, secondly as a former member of board the NTA, she has worked as a TV presenter of the popular " The shows contact (1984) and " Who's On" (1993).

As a musician, she started as a secular musician from the 1980's to the 1990's . In 1981, Onyeka became a household name after the release of her first album, Endless Life produced by Sunny Okosun. Endless Life gave Nigerians a new perception of the reporter. [The Queen of African Pop would go on in later years to release For the Love of You, In the Morning Light, One Love, Dancing in the Sun, Onyeka, Greatest Love, My Everything God and “The Legend”.In 1988, she teamed up with King Sunny Ade in a track titled “Mada wolohun”  (Let Them Say). After the very positive response the song got, and in acquiescence to fans' demand for more, she and the master of juju music did two more songs “Wait for Me” and “Choices.” Onwenu diverted to Benson and Hedges Music in 1992 and released the self-titled Onyeka!, her only album with the label, after which she made the transition to Christian/gospel music. Her latest collection titled, "Inspiration for Change," focused on the need for an attitudinal change in Nigeria. She has released over 50 songs used in promoting health(HIv/AIDS), peace and mutual coexistence, respect for women rights and the plights of children. 

  As an actress, her first role was in Zik Zulu Okafor's " Nightmare" in year 1986 but she has featured in many other movies such as Conspiracy, Chain reaction, Government House, Woman's Cot and so on. In 2006, She won the African Movie Academy Award for best actress. In 2014, she featured in the movie blockbuster" Half of a Yellow Sun".

 

As a politician, she is a member of the (PDP) Nigeria. Although she lost the contest of becoming the local government chairman of Ideato Local government area of Imo state twice, she was appointed Chairperson of Imo state Council for arts and culture by former governor Ikedi Ohakim. In September 2013, President Good luck Jonathan appointed her the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Women Development but she was relieved of that appointment in 2016 amidst accusations of high handedness and tribal stigmatization on her own part.

 

As an Activist, she fought for artiste who were not taken care of, who were denied their pensions , in 2000, she went on a one-man protest and a hunger strike outside the gates of the NTA Channel 5 over the station’s refusal to pay royalties on her song earning her again, the accolades from other artistes who in turn, took turns to join in. Her critically acclaimed song, Iyogogo, was used as one of the station’s idents. Rather than pay her, she was blacklisted from the transmission. The protest was called off after six days when Onwenu and NTA came to an arrangement regarding royalties

 

For many years, Nigerians never knew that Ms. Onwenu got married and had a family because she chose not to talk about marriage, she chose not to answer Mrs Her children answer their father’s name and she, kept her father’s name. In her words “It’s not that man and marriage are not important but I don’t want to be defined by it.” We only know that she is married to one Mr. Ogunlende and the marriage is blessed with two sons namely: Tijani Ogunlende( a famous graphic designer and photographer and Abraham Ogundele fondly called " painterable". 

Onyeka Onwenu is currently worth over $700,000 and has been a source of inspiration to many young artistes, she is known for the phrase " Mistakes make you human but how do you look at your mistakes". The lady of songs cut her hair low when she was in school, and has never worn a weave or long hair after that. Now, you see my surprise seeing her in this picture here with a weave!

 

Onyeka Onwenu was once quoted by the Guardian Newspapers to have said “Actually strong women make good wives because they have nothing to prove if they marry a man who believes that they have their own lives trajectory. God gave her a purpose, she is coming to get her job done”. She was also quoted to have said “When I stand before God and he says, ‘what did you do with what I gave you?’ I won’t say my husband stopped me.”

Onyeka Onwenu is a woman of strong character. I dare say she is phenomenal. It is almost impossible to be so popular and yet so secretive about your family life. She has kept her marriage away from the public. Onyeka is a proud Igbo woman and constantly says she is unapologetic about her roots. Surely, a woman of many parts. Dear woman, the choice is yours and you can be whatever you want to be. The future is female!