Ifunanya Nwangene, a former contestant on Season 3 of The Voice Nigeria, passed away on January 31 following a snakebite in her Abuja, Nigeria, residence. The 26-year-old singer was asleep at the time of the incident.
The music director of the Amemuso Choir, Sam C. Ezugwu, confirmed Nwangene’s death at a hospital. According to Ezugwu, Nwangene was awakened by the snakebite, leading to an immediate rush to a medical facility.
Nwangene initially sought treatment at a nearby clinic that did not have the necessary antivenom. She was subsequently transferred to the Federal Medical Centre Jabi for emergency care.
Upon his arrival at the hospital, Ezugwu told the BBC that medical personnel were trying to stabilize Nwangene. He said, “While they were trying to stabilise her, she could not speak, but she could make hand gestures. She was struggling to breathe.”
The hospital reportedly had one type of antivenom required for treatment but lacked the other. Ezugwu left to fetch the missing antivenom, but unfortunately, Nwangene passed away before he could return with the medication.
However, the Federal Medical Centre Jabi refuted claims of antivenom unavailability. The hospital stated, “Our medical staff provided immediate and appropriate treatment, including resuscitation efforts, intravenous fluids, intranasal oxygen, and the administration of polyvalent snake antivenom.”
Following the incident, animal control officers were called to Nwangene’s apartment and captured two snakes found on the premises, one of which was identified as a cobra.
A friend of Nwangene, Hillary Obinna, confirmed that the snakebite woke her from sleep, initiating the sequence of events that led to her untimely death.
Nwangene gained national attention when she competed on The Voice Nigeria in 2021. Her powerful rendition of Rihanna’s ‘Take a Bow’ during the audition earned her two chair turns from the judges.
She opted to join the team led by Waje, a celebrated Nigerian singer, and progressed through several rounds of the competition before being eliminated during the Knockouts round.
Nwangene, known for her jazz-operatic singing style, had amassed a YouTube following under the name NANYAH. Besides her music career, she was also a professional architect.
In the days leading up to her death, Nwangene was actively involved in new music projects. She had hinted at an upcoming collaboration with Nigerian musician Tbrass and was planning her first solo concert.
Following Nwangene’s death, Tbrass paid tribute to her on social media, referring to her loss as “irreplaceable” to the Abuja music community and Nigeria as a whole.
The Amemuso Choir, where Nwangene was a soprano, mourned the singer’s death in a Facebook post. They described her as a rising star who was just about to share her remarkable talent with the world.
Snake bites pose a considerable public health concern in Nigeria and throughout sub-Saharan Africa. The World Health Organization estimates that venomous snakes cause between 81,000 and 138,000 deaths worldwide each year, most of which occur in underprivileged regions of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Nigeria sees thousands of snakebite cases annually, with death rates influenced by factors including delayed medical care, limited antivenom availability, and the distance victims must travel to reach fully-equipped facilities.
Cobras, including several species native to Nigeria, have neurotoxic venom that can lead to respiratory failure if not treated. Rapid administration of species-specific antivenom is essential for effective treatment. However, even some urban medical centers, let alone rural clinics, struggle to maintain adequate antivenom supplies due to cost, storage requirements, and inconsistent distribution networks.
While encounters with venomous snakes are less common in urban homes than in rural areas, they do happen in Nigerian cities like Abuja, especially where urban development infringes on natural habitats. Medical experts stress the importance of transporting snakebite victims promptly to the nearest facility that can provide antivenom treatment, as venom effects can progress rapidly.
Nwangene’s death has left the Nigerian entertainment community and beyond in mourning. Her stint on The Voice Nigeria had set the stage for her in the competitive Nigerian music industry, where she was crafting a unique style that blended jazz and operatic elements.
Her dual career as an architect and a singer showcased her adaptability and commitment, traits shared by many Nigerian artists who juggle multiple careers while establishing themselves in the dynamic but competitive entertainment scene.
The Amemuso Choir announced that further details about Nwangene’s burial arrangements would be shared on their official Facebook page.