Legendary Nigerian singer Onyeka Onwenu’s burial wishes, detailed in a 2021 opinion piece for Premium Times, have resurfaced online following her recent death.
It may be recalled that Gist Reel reported that Onyeka Onwenu died on the night of July 30 at Reddington Hospital in Lagos.
In her 2021 editorial, the veteran singer outlined her personal preferences for her burial. Her instructions, which have gained attention following her passing, emphasize a simple and private farewell.
Onyeka Onwenu had requested a low-key burial, advising her loved ones to “mourn, yes, but not excessively.”
She preferred to be celebrated with prayers, shared meals, and laughter rather than grand ceremonies. In her own words:
“Celebrate me with prayers, lunch or dinner afterwards. Share some jokes about me and laugh. Make merriment and then go about your business. If my friends want to celebrate me, they should do so while I am alive, so that I can enjoy it with them, not when I am gone and have no idea about this. That is me, Onyeka Onwenu,” she said.
In her editorial, Onyeka Onwenu also criticized the extravagant nature of certain Nigerian funerals, contrasting her own preferences with the lavish funeral of Obi Cubana’s mother. She stated:
“The arguments of Obi Cubana’s supporters make sense on some level but I disagree on one major point. The incredibly lavish and outrageously expensive burial of the century sent all the wrong signals to the world, including the young people of Nigeria. For me, it did nothing in its garish display but besmirch the essence of a dignified burial for a woman well deserving of it.”