The music world is in mourning following the tragic death of Ifunanya Nwangene, a talented soprano vocalist who rose to fame on the third season of The Voice Nigeria. The 26-year-old singer, who also worked as an architect, passed away after being bitten by a poisonous snake at her home in Abuja, Nigeria.
A Rising Star Cut Short
Nwangene, who was born in Enugu, captured public attention in April 2021 with her powerful performance of Rihanna's ballad Take a Bow. Her rendition amassed over 85,000 views on YouTube, showcasing the vocal prowess that marked her as an emerging talent. Beyond her television appearance, she was an active member of the Amemuso Choir, where her contributions were deeply valued.
Choir's Heartbreaking Announcement
The Amemuso Choir's music director, Sam Ezugwu, confirmed the devastating news in a Facebook statement on Sunday. 'With painful heart, we announce the death of Ifunanya Nwangene Nanyah,' the choir's statement read. They described her as being 'on the cusp of sharing her incredible talent with the world' and emphasised that 'her voice and spirit will be deeply missed.'
Fellow choir member Hillary Obinna shared poignant details with BBC Africa, revealing that 'the snake bite woke her up' and that officials later recovered two snakes from Nwangene's residence. Obinna remembered her as 'a very wonderful girl' whose passing has left their community shattered. 'Everybody is shattered,' Obinna said. 'We could not sleep at night. She is humble – very intelligent and very talented.'
Medical Response and Controversy
The circumstances surrounding Nwangene's medical treatment have sparked discussion. According to BBC Africa reports, she initially sought help at a local clinic that lacked anti-venom. She was subsequently transferred to the Federal Medical Centre in Jabi.
Ezugwu told the BBC that the hospital did not have both required anti-venom treatments available, describing her final moments: 'While they were trying to stabilise her, she could not speak but she could make hand gestures. She was struggling to breathe.'
Hospital's Defence of Care
The hospital has strongly contested claims of inadequate treatment. In a statement to BBC Africa, they described allegations about missing anti-venom as 'unfounded and do not reflect the reality of the situation.' They detailed their response: 'Our medical staff provided immediate and appropriate treatment, including resuscitation efforts, intravenous fluids, intranasal oxygen, and the administration of polyvalent snake antivenom.'
The hospital explained that a 'thorough but quick' examination revealed Nwangene had developed fatal complications from the bite, and despite their efforts, medics were 'unable to revive her.' They concluded: 'We stand by the quality of care and dedication our team demonstrates daily.'
Musical Legacy and Fan Connection
Beyond her television appearance, Nwangene maintained an active YouTube presence where she shared covers of popular songs. Her channel featured renditions of Rihanna's Lift Me Up, Celine Dion's My Heart Will Go On, and Miley Cyrus's Slide Away, demonstrating her versatile vocal range.
In a comment on her Rihanna cover video under the handle @Nanyahmusic, she expressed gratitude to her growing fanbase: 'I appreciate all the comments. I'm encouraged and I will keep improving. Thank you everyone!' This interaction highlights the connection she fostered with audiences who admired her talent.
The sudden loss of this promising vocalist has sent shockwaves through Nigeria's music community and beyond, reminding many of the fragile nature of life and the unpredictable dangers that can cut brilliant careers tragically short.
