ONYEKA ONWENU

Onyeka Onwenu started her music career in 1981 when she released her debut album, For the Love of You, at the same time she was working with the NTA as a newsreader, reporter and TV presenter. Originally a secular artist, Onwenu made the transition to gospel music in the 90s, and most of her songs are self-penned. She continues to write and sing about issues such as health (HIV/AIDS), peace and mutual coexistence, respect for women's rights, and the plight of children. Onwenu collaborated with veteran jùjú artist King Sunny Ade on the track Madawolohun (Let Them Say) which appeared in 1988's Dancing In The Sun. This was the first of three songs the pair worked on together; the other two— Choices and Wait For Me—centred on family planning, and were endorsed by the Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria who used Choices in their public service announcements. In an era before the internet, there's no questioning Onyeka Onwenu's impact on the industry and the country at large.