Onyeka Onwenu planned her burial, says; Celebrate me with prayers, launch, or dinner, share some jokes about me and laugh
Questions have been asked if the Late Nigerian quintessential music star, Lady Onyeka Onwenu had premonition that she would be leaving the physical hemisphere soon
This is coming on the heels of her descriptive details of how she wished to be buried.
Onwenu had 3years ago (2021) in a written reflection on Premium Times opinion page, revealed her wishes for how she would like to be remembered and buried.
Recall that the iconic artiste, known for her velvet voice and dazzling performance died on Tuesday night at the Reddington Hospital in Lagos after slumping at the birthday party of Mrs Stella Okoli.
Onwenu was said to have finished performing some of her notable songs and rounded her performance with her popular song, One Love, keep us together, returned to her seat, sat down and took some water, only to slump and was taken to Reddington Hospital in lagos where she died two hours later.
In her 2021 Premium Times reflective write up according to Punch Newspaper, the late songstress wrote;
“Do it quickly, quietly and privately,” It should be devoid of unnecessary fanfare.
"Mourn, yes but not excessively,” Instead, focus on celebrating my life with prayers and light-hearted 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."
In her statement, Onwenu also touched on broader cultural practices, condemning the lavish display of wealth often seen at Nigerian burials.
She contrasted her own wishes with the extravagant funeral of Obi Cubana’s mother, which sparked widespread debate across the country.
“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 called for more modest and meaningful ways to honour the dead.
Before her death at 72, Onwenu has had a multifaceted career as a musician, actor, advocate, journalist, news caster and politician.
She has held various roles, including chairing the Imo State Council for Arts and Culture and was also one of the judges on the X Factor series.
HSome of her songs include, "Ekwe, ‘One Love’ ‘You and I’, among others. She is also the author of the book ‘My Father’s Daughter,’ an autobiography.