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| Onyeka Onwenu |
Onyeka Onwenu (born 1 January 1952) is a foremost Nigerian performer with a string of successful, award-winning music albums and movies. In 2006, she won the African Movie Academy Award for Best Actress in a supporting role. Dubbed the “Elegant Stallion” by the Nigerian Press, this multi-talented Artiste is a Singer,Songwriter, Actress, Social Critic and Politician. She is a former chairperson of the Imo State Council for Arts and Culture. She is currently the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Women Development.
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| Onyeka Onwenu and Kingsley Momoh |
Onwenu possess a B.A. in
International Relations and
Communication of the
Wellesley College of Massachusetts, USA, and a Masters Degree in Media Studies from
The New School for Social Research in New York. She worked for many years at the
United Nations in New York before returning to Nigeria in 1980, where she completed the mandatory one-year
National Service, at the
Nigerian Television Authority
(NTA), in Lagos. In under one year at the NTA, Onwenu made an impact as
an articulate, incisive and fearless Television Reporter. In 1984, she
wrote and presented the internationally acclaimed BBC/NTA documentary
called “Nigeria, A Squandering of Riches”.It 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.
Politics
Onyeka Onwenu has unsuccessfully pursued the dream of being Local Council Chairman(Mayor) of her native
Ideato North Local Government Area of
Imo State. She was appointed Chairperson of Imo State Council for Arts and Culture by former governor
Ikedi Ohakim. She has served on the board of the
Nigeria Television Authority. On September 16, 2013, President
Goodluck Jonathan appointed her the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Women Development.
Discography
Ms Onwenu began her music career in 1981 while still working with the
Nigeria Television Authority. She has written some of the most
memorable songs in Nigeria’s music history: “For the Love of You”, "In
the Morning Light", "Endless Life", "One Love", "Dancing in the Sun",
"Onyeka", "Greatest Love", "Let them say", "Wait for me", "Choices", "My
Everything God" and “The Legend”. Onwenu continues to write and sing
about issues as Health (HIV/AIDS), peace and mutual coexistence, respect
for women rights and the plight of children. Her latest effort titled
“Inspiration for Change” focuses on the need for an attitudinal turn
around in Nigeria.
She is into partnership with Paris-based
La Cave Musik, headed by
Nigerian cultural entrepreneur,
Onyeka Nwelue and UK-based
Jungle Entertainment Ventures, headed by musicologist,
David Evans-Uhegbu. La Cave Musik is set to release her collection titled,
Rebirth of a Legend in November.
Filmography
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