The music industry is in mourning following the unexpected passing of a young Nigerian singer who was gaining recognition in the country’s dynamic music scene.
Colleagues and friends in the music world have been sharing tributes to the 26-year-old artist, known as NANYAH. They have praised her as a unique talent whose voice and charisma resonated deeply both on stage and off. Gaining widespread attention after her participation in The Voice, she was viewed as a promising talent on the rise.
Her career seemed to be on an upward trajectory recently. She was organizing her inaugural solo concert and had hinted at a new collaboration with fellow artist Tbrass. Those who knew her described her as passionately dedicated to her art and thrilled about future opportunities, making her sudden death particularly heartbreaking.
The AMEMUSO choir, where she was an involved member, confirmed her passing. In a Facebook post, choir spokesperson Sam Ezugwu stated: “With painful heart, we announce the demise of Ifunanya Nwangene Nanyah.” They described her as a ‘rising star’ poised to share her extraordinary talent with a global audience.
Reports indicate that Ifunanya Nwangene died after a snake bit her while she was asleep in her Abuja apartment.
The BBC reported that Nwangene awoke to a sharp pain in her leg and was taken to a nearby clinic. Unfortunately, the clinic did not have the necessary antivenom. She was then moved to a hospital where attempts were made to stabilize her condition.
Ezugwu elaborated on the critical nature of the situation, noting: “While they were trying to stabilise her, she could not speak, but she could make hand gestures. She was struggling to breathe.” Although the hospital had only one of the two needed antivenom doses, Ezugwu hurried to find the second. Tragically, she was declared dead before he returned.
Animal control was later summoned to her residence, and two snakes were reportedly captured. A video circulated on social media shows someone exclaiming: “It’s a cobra” as the snakes were removed from her home.
Nwangene had appeared in the third season of The Voice Nigeria, where she delivered a strong rendition of Rihanna’s “Take A Bow” at her audition. Her performance captivated the judges, leading two to turn their chairs. She opted to join singer Waje’s team, advancing to the knockout round.
After her death, Tbrass expressed his sorrow on Instagram, writing: “An irreplaceable loss to the Abuja music society and Nigeria at large.” He continued: “The pain of saying goodbye to someone whose voice and energy brought joy, inspiration, and even healing to many is heavy.”
Snake bites are a significant yet often overlooked public health issue in tropical and subtropical regions like Nigeria. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Africa alone records between 435,000 and 580,000 snakebite cases requiring treatment annually.
In addition to the estimated 30,000 deaths in sub-Saharan Africa each year, there is a severe shortage of affordable anti-venom. The available doses are costly and require refrigeration, a challenge given the unreliable electricity supply in some African areas.