Onyeka Onwenu had specified her burial preferences before her sudden death.
The multi-talented singer, actress, journalist, author, and politician, recognized for her artistry and advocacy, passed away unexpectedly on July 30 at the Reddington Hospital in Lagos after collapsing at a birthday celebration for Mrs. Stella Okoli, where she gave her final performance. Since her passing, an article she wrote for Premium Times in 2021 regarding her burial has gained attention.
In her piece, Onyeka detailed how she wished to be laid to rest.
“Do it quickly, quietly, and privately,” she expressed.
She advised her loved ones to grieve respectfully and not excessively, instead encouraging them to commemorate her life through prayers and joyful moments. “Celebrate me with prayers, lunch or dinner afterwards. Share some jokes about me and laugh,” she suggested.
“Hold a light-hearted gathering and then resume your usual activities. If my friends wish to celebrate with me, they should do so while I am alive so that I can relish it with them, not after I am gone and unaware of it. That’s my perspective, Onyeka Onwenu.” Additionally, she criticized the ostentatious display of wealth often witnessed at Nigerian funerals. “I am very uncomfortable with the extravagant flaunting of riches on any occasion, particularly during times of hardship and scarcity for many others,” she remarked.
Onyeka advocated for simpler and more heartfelt ways of honoring the departed.
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