How I want to be buried – Onyeka Onwenu

In a reflection shared three years ago, veteran Nigerian singer and actress Onyeka Onwenu revealed her wishes for how she would like to be remembered and buried.

The iconic artist, known for her powerful voice and activism, was said to have died on Tuesday night at the Reddington Hospital in Lagos after slumping at the birthday party of Mrs Stella Okoli.

“Do it quickly, quietly and privately,” Onwenu wrote in an opinion piece on Premium Times in 2021, emphasising that her burial should be devoid of unnecessary fanfare.

She urged her loved ones to “mourn, yes but not excessively,” and to instead focus on celebrating her 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,” she said.

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 remarked, calling for more modest and meaningful ways to honour the deceased.

Onwenu has had a multifaceted career, working in music, film, advocacy, journalism and politics.

She has held various roles, including chairing the Imo State Council for Arts and Culture and judging on the X Factor series.

Her music and writings have been widely recognised, with notable songs including ‘One Love’ and ‘You and I’. She is also the author of the book ‘My Father’s Daughter,’ an autobiography.