Popularly called the Elegant Stallion, Onyeka Onwenu is one of the first generations of women doing music in Nigeria. She has been on the stage for over 40 years. The 68-year-old singer is not even near slowing down. She is a woman of many parts, she is a singer, politician, actress, activist and journalist.
She once had a brief stint at NTA producing documentary and has also featured in so many blockbuster films. She comes from a family of music. Her grandfather was a singer, politician, her father was a pianist and politician and her mother is also a singer, woman leader and activist. Onyeka took all these traits all this she took from her parents. She was born 29 January 1952. She grew up in Port Harcourt. She is a former chairperson of the Imo State Council for Arts and Culture and the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Women Development.
Onwenu hails from Arondizuogu, a small town in Ideato North, Imo State. She is the youngest daughter of Nigerian educationist and politician D.K. Onwenu, who died when she was four years old in an auto-crash a week before his appointment as Minister for Education. She was shot into limelight in 1981. The song “African Woman” from Onwenu’s fourth album One Love was believed to be inspired by her mother.
Onwenu possesses a BA in International Relations and Communication from Wellesley College, Massachusetts, and an MA in Media Studies from The New School for Social Research, New York. She worked at the United Nations as a tour guide before returning to Nigeria in 1980 to run her mandatory one-year national service at the NTA where she made an impact as an articulate incisive newsreader, and fearless reporter.
In 1984, Onwenu wrote and presented the internationally acclaimed BBC/NTA documentary entitled: Nigeria, A Squandering of Riches, which became the definitive film about corruption in Nigeria as well as the intractable Niger Delta agitation for resource control and campaign against environmental degradation in the oil-rich region of Nigeria. A former member on the board of the NTA, she has also worked as a TV presenter, handling the shows Contact (1988) and Who’s On? (1993) both on NTA Network.
Originally a secular artist, Onwenu made the transition to gospel music in the ’90s, and most of her songs are self-penned. She continues to write and sing about many issues such as peace and mutual coexistence, respect for women’s rights, and the plight of children. She began her music career in 1981, while still working at NTA, releasing the album For the Love of You, a pop album, which featured an orchestral cover of Johnny Nash’s “Hold Me Tight”, and her second album, Endless Life was produced by Sonny Okosuns.
Onwenu’s first album with Polygram, In The Morning Light, was released in 1984. Recorded in London, it features a track entitled: “Masterplan” written by her close friend, Tyna Onwudiwe, who had previously contributed to Onwenu’s BBC documentary and subsequently sang back-up vocal on the album. After her fourth release, 1986’s One Love, which contained an updated version of the song “(In the) Morning Light, she collaborated with veteran jùjú artiste Sunny Ade, on a track: “Madawolohun (Let Them Say)” which featured in 1988’s Dancing In The Sun. This was the first of three songs the pair worked on together; the other two – “Choices” and “Wait For Me” – centred on family planning, and were endorsed by the Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria who used “Choices” in its commercials. Onwenu’s final release on Polygram was dedicated to Winnie Mandela, the subject of a song of the same name which Onwenu performed live when Nelson Mandela and his wife visited Nigeria in 1990 following his release from prison.
Onwenu went to Benson and Hedges Music in 1992 and released a self-titled Onyeka!, her only album on the label, after which she embraced Christian/gospel music.
In recognition of her contribution to music and arts in Nigeria, she has been celebrated by many professionals with many awards among others in the arts industry in Nigeria.
Onyeka Onwenu was a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). She has contested twice to become a Local Council Chairman of her local government, Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State, and was appointed Chairperson of Imo State Council for Arts and Culture by a former Governor, Ikedi Ohakim. On 16 September 2013, President Goodluck Jonathan appointed her the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Women Development. Onwenu notably keeps her personal life private and often declines interviews. She is the mother of two children. City People’s Society Editor, Tayo Fajorin Oyediji, met with her at Senator Florence Ita Giwa’s 74th birthday and after so much persuasion, she granted a short chat where she spoke about her life, her relationship with Senator Ita Giwa and why she can’t quit music.
Can you tell us how you feel about Florence Ita Giwa as she turned 74
She is an iconic figure in Nigeria, in politics, social circle, in music and entertainment. She has been a pillar, she is a strong woman, we all admire her for boosting the image of the Nigerian woman in Africa and the world. She has been able to do what men are unable to do. I love what she does for her Bakassi people. It is just her dedication to the cause of her people and sometimes it is unbelievable that a woman could go that far. I can only admire the number of children she is taking care of, that she is a mother to, I don’t know if there is anyone who has as many children as she does and she gives them her best. That takes a special heart to do. We pray that as she is looking good at 74, God will keep her strong and healthy, remain visionary remain thriving and continue to give her best to the people. I believe Nigeria is blessed because she is a Nigerian.
How long have you known her and what is the relationship?
Oh mine! I would not call myself her friend, I will call myself an admirer. I will call myself a fellow politician and someone whom I look up to as a big sister. I grew up in Port Harcourt and she also did. Certainly, her marriage to Dele Giwa, one of the foremost journalist this country has ever produced also put her in this literally circle so I am not a friend, but I am a friend all the same. It has been a very long time. I just watched her grew from strength to strength and glory to glory, persevering the more and no matter how much you push her, she is still standing. Some of us look at her as someone to learn from in being strong, in believing in yourself, in pushing for good things to happen to people around you and affecting society and those that you love.
If you look at the role of women in the society, in recent times, women have been at the forefront of major happenings in the country, and I can say you are one of them being a politician and also through your music, what is your take on this?
Sometimes, I get very frustrated because I don’t think there is anything that I have done that is enough, I believe that I could do more, I am striving to do more. I hope God gives me the opportunity to do more. My heart sometimes bleeds for the women of this country, the people of this country, for what the country is going through. I just don’t feel like I am doing enough or I have done enough, I pray to God that I will increase my level of performance, by his grace I am working towards that. I must salute women in this country, they are trying.
At this age, you still look very stylish, young and glowing, what is the secret of this new look?
It is something I inherited from my mum and I think it is also God’s grace. It gives you a sense of contentment. It gives you the inner strength to navigate this country as a woman because it is just a difficult thing to do, for a woman to balance all together is real work. If you trust God, he gives you the grace. He has a special spot for us women, I really want to believe that. So, don’t try to mess up a woman, God will come down heavily on you.
You have been on stage for decades, and you are not even slowing down at your age, what is the energy?
I can not also say, because I really think it’s God’s grace. He has been gracious unto me to still have the strength to be doing this at this stage of my life. God is all-encompassing, so I owe it all to him. He is behind the energy, it is none of my strength.
What does music mean to you?
Music is life. Music is everything. Music brings comfort. Music brings praise, it brings joy. Music gives you an opportunity to express yourself, to address issues that normally you may feel not able to address, you can do so through a song. It is a gift that I am grateful for. I do not take it for granted, and every opportunity that I get, I do my best to use it for the common good not just to sing. I only use my music to inspire, promote and encourage people. I don’t just do music.
Professionally how many years have you been doing music?
I have been singing for up to 41 years now and I am still keeping strong.it can’t stop.
Many people grew up to know your hair trademark. Why have you been keeping low cut and for how long?
Because it is what I find very comfortable. When you start wearing a low cut, you can not go back to anything else. I have been on the low cut for about 45 years since when I was in the US. It saved me a whole lot of money when I was a student.
Looking at the music of this new generation as to what it is during your era, what do think has changed the shift and where does relevance come in?
Well, there is nothing that can beat evergreen songs. Songs that inspire people or has a message. Being relevant is key in music. Every musician has his/her own niche. Many who still want to be relevant hanker back on what we did years back. From different genres of music, highlife, afro-pop and so on. There are many songs of today that I see many of our lines in it. So, if the younger ones could learn from such songs, then it means the music has endured and it is evergreen. Good music is good music, it does not go stale. So, being relevant has to do with what you bring out not to be forgotten in a hurry. The new generation of musicians must know this. Originality is key.
–TAYO FAJORIN OYEDIJI
