Veteran Nigerian singer and actress Onyeka Onwenu, in a heartfelt opinion piece written for Premium Times in 2021, revealed how she wants to be buried.
According to the piece, Onyeka Onwenu detailed her wishes for a simple and private burial.
Onwenu, known for her significant contributions to music, film, and activism, expressed a desire to avoid the extravagant ceremonies often associated with funerals in Nigeria.
Onwenu’s reflections were deeply personal. “Do it quickly, quietly, and privately,” she wrote, emphasizing that her funeral should be devoid of excessive fanfare. She requested her loved ones to mourn her, but not excessively.
Instead, she wanted her life to be celebrated with prayers and light-hearted moments.
“Celebrate me with prayers, lunch or dinner afterward. Share some jokes about me and laugh. Make merriment and then go about your business,” Onwenu advised, highlighting her preference for enjoying celebrations during her lifetime rather than having them occur after her death.
She also criticized the lavish displays of wealth that are common in Nigerian funerals, contrasting her simple wishes with the extravagant funeral of Obi Cubana’s mother.
Onwenu remarked, “I am very uncomfortable with the lavish display of wealth on any occasion, especially in a time of hardship for many others,” advocating for more modest and meaningful tributes.
Onyeka Onwenu’s career spanned multiple fields. She served as the chair of the Imo State Council for Arts and Culture, was a judge on the X Factor series, and authored an autobiography titled My Father’s Daughter. Her impact on Nigerian culture was profound and multifaceted.
Sadly, Onwenu passed away on Tuesday night at Reddington Hospital in Lagos after collapsing at Mrs. Stella Okoli’s birthday party. Her death marks the end of an era, but her legacy will live on through her music, films, and written works.
