How I want my funeral to be – Onyeka Onwenu’s final wish resurfaces following demise

• In 2021, late Nigerian singer, actress, and activist Onyeka Onwenu expressed her wishes for a modest and private burial.
• She desired a simple farewell with prayers and light-hearted moments.
• Onwenu also criticized lavish funerals, urging her loved ones to celebrate her life while she was still alive. 

Late Nigerian singer, actress, and activist Onyeka Onwenu had shared her wishes for her remembrance and burial in a reflective piece three years ago.

In an opinion piece on Premium Times in 2021, she expressed the desire for a simple, quiet, and private farewell, free from excessive fanfare. Onwenu urged her loved ones to mourn modestly, focusing on celebrating her life with prayers, light-hearted moments, and joyful memories. She emphasized the importance of honouring her while she was still alive, allowing her to share in the celebration.

In her words:

“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.”

Onwenu also addressed broader cultural practices, criticizing the lavish displays of wealth often seen at Nigerian burials. She contrasted her own wishes with the extravagant funeral of Obi Cubana’s mother. Instead, she advocated for more modest and meaningful ways to honour the deceased.

She said:

“I am very uncomfortable with the lavish display of wealth on any occasion, especially in a time of hardship and lack for most others.”

Onwenu’s multifaceted career spanned music, film, advocacy, journalism, and politics. She 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 recognized, with notable songs like “One Love” and “You and I.” She is also the author of the book “My Father’s Daughter.”

Onwenu’s passing on Tuesday night at Reddington Hospital in Lagos, after slumping at Mrs. Stella Okoli’s birthday party, has sparked an outpouring of tributes and condolences. Her legacy as a powerful voice and activist will be remembered, and her wishes for a simple and meaningful farewell might be respected.