The sudden demise of the iconic singer Onyeka Onwenu on July 30 has brought to the fore the many battles she fought while alive. Beyond her celebrated music career, Onwenu faced several personal challenges, particularly in her marriage.
One of the major battles Onwenu recounted in her memoir “My Father’s Daughter” was the rumor that she had a secret love child with King Sunny Ade (KSA). The rumors started after the release of their love song “Madawonloum” and the subsequent duets “Choices” and “Waiting for Me” for a family planning project.
Onwenu said the gossip even reached her four-year-old son, who was told by his friend’s driver that KSA was his father. This deeply upset Onwenu, who had to sever ties with the friend’s family and issue a public statement to debunk the rumors.
Another battle Onwenu fought was being tricked into performing at Abacha’s “One Million Man March” in Abuja, which she had initially thought was a fundraiser for the Super Eagles. Onwenu was enraged when she discovered her name was on the list of performers for the event, which was meant to support the military regime. She faced threats and accusations of being a traitor of the June 12 cause, even though she had no prior knowledge of the event.
Onwenu’s marriage was also fraught with challenges. While she kept the details private, she revealed in her memoir that she married a Yoruba Muslim man in 1984, and they had two sons, Tijani and Ibrahim (later Abraham). However, her husband’s disappearance for five years after being accused of a crime, and his subsequent illnesses, strained the marriage.
The singer also faced emotional and psychological trauma in her marriage, as her husband imposed various restrictions on her, such as prohibiting her from employing a cook or cleaning the master bedroom. Onwenu was expected to serve her husband’s meals and wash his socks, while also working to provide for the family, including her husband. This took a toll on her mental health, leading to weight loss and depression.
The final straw came when her husband verbally abused her in the presence of their family members, leading Onwenu to walk away, knowing their marriage was over.
Even in the face of these personal battles, Onwenu remained a fearless fighter for justice. In 2021, she embarked on a hunger strike to protest her ban from the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) due to a dispute over residual fees and copyright dues. This protest, supported by the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, demonstrated Onwenu’s unwavering commitment to standing up for her rights and those of her colleagues.
Onyeka Onwenu’s life was marked by both personal and professional battles, but she faced them with resilience, courage, and an unwavering commitment to justice.
