HELP! Onyeka Onwenu, MFR, About to Lose Interest in Nigeria

Find Out Why

She is a broadcaster, actress, musician, politician, social crusader, parent, philanthropist all rolled into one. For several years, she bestrode the Nigerian musical scene with unquestionable elan, zest and panache. Easily one of the first university graduates to hit the music train, Onyeka Onwenu’s adroit deployment of intellect, philosophy, grit and beauty approximated the proverbial beauty, brain and brawn. Apart from commanding her voice, ebullient presence and demeanor, she captivated her audience with impassioned entreaties about national unity, oneness and love. In her song “One Love” she drilled down the message
of unity with such emotional depth that, for some time, it literally assumed the status of the country’s national anthem. Read the excerpt below:
Q: You are easily one of the most talented artistes Nigeria has ever produced. We would
like to know the secret of your success.
Talent comes from God but one is expected to work it – with your intentions and ability to focus and
commitment as well as gratitude. You give your very best in every situation with whatever opportunities
you are presented with, no matter how small it may look. That is what recommends and prepares you for
the next level.
Q: You are a broadcaster, actress, musician, politician, social crusader, parent, philanthropist all rolled into one. Tell us the role that gives you the greatest fulfilment?
This is hard for me because in any given situation, you may find yourself deploying a good number of Q:
You are easily one of the most talented artistes Nigeria has ever produced. We would like to
know the secret of your success.
Talent comes from God but one is expected to work it – with your intentions and ability to focus and
commitment as well as gratitude. You give your very best in every situation with whatever opportunities you are presented with, no matter how small it may look. That is what recommends and prepares you for the next level.
Q: You are a broadcaster, actress, musician, politician, social crusader, parent, philanthropist all rolled into one. Tell us the role that gives you the greatest fulfilment?
This is hard for me because in any given situation, you may find yourself deploying a good number of these skills, in combination. I have grown to love them all. The important thing is how much more successful I am in combining them.
Q: May we have a checklist of your music and movie roles?
This is a long list:
Albums:
Endless life – Produced by Sonny Okosuns.
For The love of You by Berkely Jones
In the Morning Light by Kenny St George
Onyeka by Jean Paul Munik aka Bluey
Dancing In the Sun by Lemmy Jackson
My Everything God by Onyeka Onwenu
The Legend by various Producers
Wake Up by Wole Oni
In the making is ‘We All Need Love’ – by TeekayWitty and Onyeka Onwenu.

In between are numerous collaborations with King Sunny Ade, the first ever in Nigeria, Gabriel Eziashi, Nosa,
Panam Percy Paul on the Leah Sharibu song and many others.
Q: What is the name of the movie that you are presently involved with and, if it is not premature, what do we expect?
There are several that have not been released but will soon such as Ije Awele. Obara m and Curse
(about the Osu caste in the South-East. There have also been stage plays and musicals such as Speak
Out (about the Nigerian girl child)
Q: You have won several awards in your life. Name some of the awards and the one that gives you the greatest satisfaction?
There are too many for this space. I value all. I am always grateful for the recognition but it isn’t really
my thing as I do not feel that I have done enough. I have turned down many because people try to use it
to get me to attend their events and perform free of charge for them.
Q: At 70, there is no evidence that you plan to slow down. What are your major preoccupations today?
By God’s grace I have just begun a new phase in my career sans the encumbrances that may have held
me back in the past, such as raising my children and singlehanded taking care of my immediate and
extended families. It is quite simply God’s grace that I have the vigor and vision still and I am enjoying every moment though tasking. In Nigeria the woman has to have double the talent, skills and ingenuity to push ahead. No one will help you without a huge price which some of us are unwilling to pay.

Q: Considering the background of your early days in the industry, did you envisage the present status of the entertainment industry, as a major employer of labor, source of people empowerment and wealth creator in general?
Yes. I did. We worked hard and sacrificed to lay the foundation for what the younger Artistes are enjoying today, whether they realize it or not. We did so with PMAN (Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria) and COSON (Copyright Society of Nigeria), a collective society now completely ruined by Tony Okoroji. We went on strike, asking Federal Government owned Radio Stations, the only ones at the time to stop playing our Music until they agreed to pay copyright dues. Artistes like myself, Ebenezer Obey, Sunny Ade, Christy Essien Igbokwe, Sony Okosuns were banned for years until the Govt came to its senses. We led protest to the Attorney General’s office during a military regime to make piracy a criminal offense rather than civil. I went on hunger strike to protest the ban by Ben Bruce and the NTA he led for demanding my residual fees for the rerun of my programs and for using my song Iyogogo to open and close their station for years. We brought seriousness, glamour and panache to the industry and made it acceptable for women to partake and excel in it, particularly the well educated. Today, the world has taken note. We also popularized and adapted our local music.
Mine was a fusion of pop, highlife, juju, folk and ikwokirikwo which I called African pop.
Q: How do you explain the exponential growth in the entertainment industry?
I think that the attention of the world is now focused on alternative sounds which Nigerian music and
films represent. The west is tired of listening only to itself.

Q: How has ICT impacted on the entertainment industry and what are the other empowerment opportunities that could be explored to tackle youth unemployment and social vices?
Music production is now both digitalized and analogous. One must have competence or knowledge of
these, in production and in distribution. Gone are the days when people would buy badly produced
music. Your listeners are exposed and say, they want the best sounds.
The opportunities are many for our youths. You can create music, record and release without going
through a record company and the world will land at your feet. But it still takes hard work, creativity and
passion.
Q: We would like to have your view on recent concerns by some industry members that some artistes may have turned the industry into smokescreens for anti-social behavior?
Yes. This is a huge concern which is negatively impacting society with lewdness, drugs, etc. But it is not just the entertainment industry that should be blamed. Corruption and the flaunting of ill-gotten wealth, marginalization and injustice all are responsible for the upturning of societal values.
Q: As someone who has dedicated aspects of your career, including music, to social- crusading, particularly national unity, give us your impression of the current state of the Nigerian society.
I am not a happy camper at all. I feel let down and discriminated against. If the two major parties, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressive Congress (APC) fail to field candidates from the Southeast, I will lose interest completely in project Nigeria. The hatred of Ndigbo is disturbing. If you do not want us, then let us go continues to be my mantra.
Q: Gender sensitivity and general diversity issues have also been at the core of your social campaigns. What is your assessment of the present situation?
I am of course disappointed that not much has changed in the area of gender inclusiveness in politics
and decision making in Nigeria. It is even worse where I come from, the South-East (SE) of Nigeria. I
deal with it by charging my own course and moving ahead whether anyone likes it or not. They may call
me troublesome, aggressive or whatever they chose but that is water off a duck’s back. I push on and
hopefully serve as a role model for others.
Q: Reports and evidence of the horrors and inhuman conditions to which young female Nigerians are subjected abroad remain a source of concern to the society. As an icon and role model, what is your advice to the potentially vulnerable ladies in particular and Nigerian youths in general?
My advice is for everyone. The young girls, their parents, families and communities which goad them
on to go out to prostitute themselves to bring back wealth home to them as well as the country which
seems unconcerned. We will all pay the price. These are future leaders and mother of leaders. What
have we brought unto ourselves.

Q: Who are your role models among the several women who have distinguished
themselves as global icons and why?
There are the obvious ones but I will leave out naming names as I would be obliged to name all. Some of them like Grace Alele Williams were older but there are many younger ones for whom I was a role model but whom I have come to admire immensely for what they represent – integrity, excellence, doggedness and vision. Above all of them towers my mother Hope Onwenu, a most extraordinary woman. Glory be to God.
Q: Give us 10 secrets of success that Nigerian youths should embrace?
From number 1 to 10 is God. He inspires and protects. He, it is who provides the opportunities and
purpose for life. Once you have Him and the direction of the Holy Spirit, you are unstoppable.
Q: Are you still in active politics?
I will always engage politically but I am not running for any office and not interested in any appointments. I am an advocate of justice and fairness towards the people of the South-East, in having a go at the Presidency and not just any candidate but the very best which the area is blessed with. I am also an advocate for raising and enthroning the best political, social and entrepreneurial leaders in all spheres in the region. It is time we looked inwards to salvage the race and not allow others to despoil the place, used as tools in the hands of those who want to destroy us entirely.
Q: What are your expectations for 2023 and what is your advice to Nigerians?
It is time to do the needful. Register to vote, go out to vote and ensure that your votes are counted. Reject the selling of your votes. We are paying a huge price with our lives. Say no to the ascendancy of stooges installed in our political space by the enemy. Take back the Southeast or we are finished. Violence is unacceptable but smartness and strategic engagement are necessary. I wish us well.