Onyeka Onwenu and Her Husband, a Yoruba Muslim, Married in 1984!
Onyeka Onwenu, a Nigerian singer, passed away on January 31, 1952, at the age of 72. Thus far, her ex-husband hasn’t talked about the ordeal.
The coveted singer, Onyeka, breathed her last at the Reddington Hospital on Tuesday. She reportedly had collapsed after a performance at a birthday party.
Beyond her music career, Onyeka was an actress, human rights activist, social activist, politician, and journalist.
The award-winning singer’s passing undoubtedly is a great loss for the musician industry, fans, and her family.
Onyeka Onwenu Opened Up About Her Struggles and Sacrifices in Marriage and Motherhood
Onyeka Onwenu was married; however, their relationship went downhill, leading to divorce. So far, the details about her ex-husband remain concealed.
The only known facts about him are that his last name is Ogunlende and that he is a Yoruba Muslim.
She kept her personal life away from the media scrutiny. In fact, Onyeka had been tight-lipped surrounding her ex-partner.
That said, Onyeka penned about how she became head over heels and married the man she fell in love with in her autobiography “My Father’s Daughter.”
Onyeka previously discussed her failed marriage and her challenges in an interview with media personality Kikilomo Atanda-Owo.
The singer expressed the difficulties she experienced in making the decision to leave for the sake of her own well-being and her children.
Onyeka mentioned that her husband was a generous and kind man. However, he was also a controlling man who wouldn’t like it if things were done against his wishes.
She also admitted that she didn’t want to end her marriage. However, realizing that continuing would have had larger consequences in the long run, the singer took a big step.
With a heavy heart, the Nigerian singer told the interviewer,
I went through it, it was difficult because I really didn’t want my marriage to end but I couldn’t take it anymore
On top of that, Onyeka cared deeply about her children and their well-being. In her interview, she talked about her efforts to raise them.
Onyeka Onwenu Raised Her Two Kids Independently Without Her Husband’s Assistance!
The Nigerian singer shared two children, Tijani Ogunlende and Abraham Ogunlende (formerly Ibrahim Ogunlende), with her partner.
She revealed that she raised her children independently without her kid’s father’s assistance from kindergarten through to their master’s degrees.
Onyeka prioritized ensuring that her children got what they needed for their education and upbringing regardless of her spouse’s lack of financial support.
She paid school fees, bought clothes, covered holiday expenses, and handled housekeeping money on her own.
This speaks volumes about Onyeka’s strong commitment to her children. She chose to leave an unhappy marriage to create a healthier environment for them.
Onyeka’s son, Tijani Ogunlede, is a photographer, graphic designer, and tech enthusiast. He previously worked as a web developer at KRT Marketing.
With a passion for the creative arts, Tijani graduated from the University of Maryland Baltimore County with a BA in Visual Arts in 2009.
He studied Visual Arts at Montgomery College and Interface Design and User Experience at the Academy of Art University.
Likewise, Onyeka’s son, Abraham, is a contemporary artist who is known as Painter Abe.
On January 3, 2014, he held a week-long art exhibition, “Culture Shock.”
Meanwhile, we offer our heartfelt condolence to Onyeka’s sons and extended family during this time of ordeal.
Additional Information
- Onyeka Onwenu’s father, D. K. Onwenu, passed away when she was four years old in an auto crash.
- She graduated from Wellesley College, Massachusetts, with a BA degree in International Relations and Communication.
- During her tenure at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), she wrote an internationally lauded BBC/NTA documentary on corruption in Nigeria, “Nigeria: A Squandering of Riches.”
