On Friday, August 30, 2024, Nigeria mourned the loss of its famous music star Onyeka Onwenu, affectionately called the ‘Elegant Stallion.’
She was buried in Lagos after a funeral service at the Fountain of Life Church in Ilupeju, followed by a private burial in Ikoyi.
This decision about the burial site has caused a strong debate online, as many people find it hard to understand why such a significant person is being laid to rest far from her home.
Onyeka Onwenu, whose heritage is from Arondizuogu in Imo State, southeastern Nigeria, was deeply connected to the cultural and historical significance of her homeland.
The big difference between her famous background and the city of Lagos has caused a lot of confusion and unhappiness among her fans and the public.
Critics are wondering how a valued daughter of the Igbo land could be laid to rest in a place so far from her origins.
In her family’s defense, some people believe that her marriage to a Yoruba man or her own desires might have influenced this choice.
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Onwenu stated in an interview years ago that she fell in love and married a man in 1984. They had two sons, Tijani and Ibrahim, who later changed his name to Abraham.
Below are some quotes from the interview;
“I am, perhaps for the very first time, setting the records straight concerning my connubial relationship. Yes, I was married. I married a man I fell in love with in 1984. We had two children Tijani and Ibrahim. My husband is Yoruba and was a Muslim when we met.”