ONYEKA ONWENU, MFR (1952 – 2024): LIFE AND TIMES OF NIGERIAN SONGSTRESS AND ELEGANT STALLION

Onyeka Onwenu hailed from Arondizuogu, a town in Ideato North LGA, Imo State She was born on January 31, 1952 and raised in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. She has an impressive career that spans several fields, including music, acting, human rights activism, journalism, and politics. She was one of the early highly educated musicians Nigeria has produced. She attended Wellesley College in Massachusetts, USA, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Communication. She obtained a Masters Degree in Media Studies from The New School for Social Research, New York. She worked for the United Nations as a tour guide before returning to Nigeria in 1980 to complete her mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), in Lagos, Nigeria.

Onyeka Onwenu began her music career in the 1980s blending genres like highlife, pop, and gospel. She was known for her powerful voice and charismatic stage presence, which earned her the nickname “Elegant Stallion” from the Nigerian press. Her music resonates across generations, with iconic songs like “Ekwe”, “You and I”, and “One Love”   Onwenu’s legacy as a singer/songwriter, actress, and social activist continues to inspire and influence Nigerian culture and beyond.

Onyeka Onwenu’s recording career began in 1981 while still with the NTA, releasing the album For the Love of You, a pop album which featured an orchestral cover of Johnny Nash's "Hold Me Tight", produced by Berkley Jones. Her second album was Endless Life, produced by Sonny Okosun, and included another cover – the Everley Brothers' "Walk Right Back". Both records were released under the EMI label. Her first album with Polygram Records, “In The Morning Light”, was released in 1984. Recorded in London, it featured the track "Masterplan" written by her close friend Tyna Onwudiwe.

Onyeka Onwenu had a notable collaboration with King Sunny Ade, one of Nigeria’s most celebrated musicians. Their professional relationship was marked by the release of the hit song “Wait for Me” in 1984, which became a significant success in Nigeria. “Wait for Me” was more than just a song; it was part of a public health campaign aimed at promoting responsible family planning and safe sex.

Onyeka Onwenu made an impact as a newsreader and reporter while she was an employee of NTA. In 1984, she wrote and presented the internationally acclaimed BBC/NTA documentary “Nigeria: A Squandering of Riches” which became the definitive film about corruption in Nigeria, as well as the intractable Niger Delta agitation for resource control and campaign against environmental degradation in the oil rich region of Nigeria

Onyeka Onwenu also excelled as an actress, leaving an indelible mark on Nollywood with roles in films like “Half of a Yellow Sun” and “Lion Heart.” Her passion for social change led her into politics and activism, where she championed women’s rights and advocated for marginalized groups.

Onyeka Onwenu was appointed Chairperson of Imo State Council for Arts and Culture by former Governor Ikedi Ohakim, and in 2013, President Goodluck Jonathan appointed her the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Women Development. She notably kept her personal life private and often refused to disclose private information regarding her ex-husband, a Yoruba Muslim, with whom she bore two children – Tijani Charles and Abraham.

Onyeka Onwenu died on Tuesday July 30 2024 at the Reddington Hospital in Lagos after slumping at the birthday party of the CEO of Emzor Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Mrs. Stella Okoli.

Rest on Elegant Stallion!

EMEKS MUSIC

Rema Flies Higher: Becomes First African to Win Chinese Music Award

Nigerian music lovers heaved a sigh of relief after the disappointing performance of Nigerian artists nominated for 2024 Grammy Awards.
Nigerian superstar Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, has made history as the first African artist to win a Chinese Music Award.
The singer achieved this feat with his song ‘Calm Down’ which he had remixed with the American superstar Selena Gomez to win the Best Collaboration of the Year at the 2024 Hito Music Award in the Republic of China.

The award which was presented by Hit FM, Taiwan was hosted by DJ Andy. Rema has therefore joined the American and British artists on the list of the few international musicians to have won the Taiwanese award.

I bet you Afrobeats is truly ruling the world! No force can ever stop an idea whose time has come. 

EMEKS MUSIC

AFROBEATS 2024: New, Young and Vibrant Afrobeats Artists to Watch Out For

 1. Raebel

Raebel is a young Nigerian artiste currently creating her own space in the music industry with a fresh sound that is a reflection of alternative R&B, Neo-soul, reggae/dancehall, and a sprinkle of the traditional Nigerian flavor.
Raebel’s 2022 biggest song ‘Miniskirt’ was originally a freestyle she did became a smash hit single after she teamed up with Timbun who produced the song.

2. Llona

Micheal Ajuma Attah, popularly known as Llona, is a young and fast-rising recording artist and songwriter from Kogi State, Nigeria. His music styles revolve around contemporary Afrobeats, R&B, and Dancehall.

3. Qing Madi

Chimamanda Pearl Chukwuma, popularly known as Qing Madi, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and dancer who came to the limelight through her hit single “See Finish.”
Born in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, Madi is shaping the future of music with her unique genre-bending fusion of Afrobeats, pop, soul, and R&B. The Nigerian artiste is a master of her craft with nearly a decade of experience under her belt, having launched her career at 7 years old.

4. TML Vibez

Timileyin Sulaimon (born 2000) is a talented Nigerian singer and songwriter known by his professional moniker, TML Vibez. He is making significant strides in the Nigerian music industry and has garnered attention for his exceptional talent.

5. Gdzilla

Emerging from the dynamic core of Lagos State, Gdzilla’s musical journey, which blossomed in 2023, is more than a career choice; it’s the realization of a lifelong dream, an impassioned odyssey. His music seamlessly merges traditional Afrobeat rhythms, deeply rooted in Lagos’ cultural tapestry, with a contemporary twist, crafting a compelling soundscape.

6. Ninety

Ninety, whose real name is Alabo Tuonims, emerges at a time when the Afrobeats genre is evolving, with Late Millennials and Gen Z shifting specific themes and styles of traditional genres in music. He really has a lot of potentials to shine in 2024.

7. Smada

Adams Olabode, popularly known as Smada, is a songwriter and an artist with a blend of diversified genres. From Afrobeats to Indie, and to Alternative, and Afro-Pop. He is signed to NATIVE Records in partnership with Def Jam Recordings.

8. Major AJ

Major AJ is one of the most young and vibrant of voices veering into the Nigerian music scene, especially at this time when the industry is tilting towards R&B/Pop monotony.

9. Big Boi Tee

David Azuma, popularly known as Big Boi Tee, also started making music at an early age. The youngster has the ability to make different genres of music. He’s a star to watch out for in 2024.

10. Amexin

Kalu Daniel Onoh known as Amexin is a Nigerian born singer and songwriter that use Afrobeat and folk music to create a unique sound. Amexin signed a record deal in 2022 with Estlon music and publishing deal with Ultra International Music Publishing.

11. Kold AF

Kold AF is an emerging Nigerian Afrofusion artist. Kold AF’s journey into the limelight was meticulously crafted, marked by a transformative artist’s development phase which displayed confidence and self-assuredness in her sound. She will definitely shine in 2024.

12. Noon Dave

Nigerian AfroPop singer-songwriter, Noon Dave is an Alumni of Peter Kings College of Music, who taps his songwriting inspiration from a diverse exposure to different genres, soaking up elements from Pop, R&B, Soul, and, of course, Afrobeats to create his unique sound.

13. Eli Jae

Abuchi Elijah Emedem is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and performing music act, popularly known as Eli Jae. He was raised in the city of Port Harcourt where he first found his love for music; he enjoyed writing and being a backup act for other artists until he decided to start making music of his own. His sound flawlessly merges R&B with Afrobeats and alternative music.

14. Shine TTW

Chukwuma Chinaza Ferdinand, also known as ShineTTW, is a promising Nigerian singer from the southeast part of Nigeria. He had his secondary school education in Anambra, where his knack for singing and beatboxing earned him the tag “class entertainer.” He’s a star to watch in 2024.

15. Yarden

Okereke Blessed Jordan, popularly known as Yarden is a Nigerian singer and songwriter born on August 2, 2000. He is from Abia State but was raised in Lagos State. He comes from a music and entertainment family and possesses a unique sound that features a dark, groovy, and ominous vibe, which is a new and different sound for the world to accept and relate to on an unlimited scale.
The 20-year-old Afrobeats act is currently signed to Etins Record Limited. Watch out for Yarden this year he's full of surprises!

Conclusion

Gen-Zs are fully taking over Afrobeats and they’ll surely take to it to the zenith soon. Watch out this 2024 for the making of superstars from these new, young and vibrant Afrobeats stars.

Afrobeats is surely ruling the world! 

Emeks Music

REMA IS THE BEST AFROBEATS SINGER BY ALL STANDARDS IN 2023

 The Nigerian Afrobeats singer Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, is by all standards the best Afrobeats singer in 2023. He has also broken a four-decade-old record held by the legendary King Sunny Ade, as his album, “Rave & Roses”, emerged the longest-charting African album in the United States of America.

Rave & Roses is ranked 137 on the Billboard 200 after 30 weeks. The Billboard 200 is a record chart ranking the 200 most popular music albums and EPs in the United States. It is rated based on streaming and sales activity.
With its remarkable staying power on the charts, Rema’s album has secured its place in history as the longest-charting album by any African artiste in the United States.
The 23-year-old Afrobeats singer took the industry by storm with his unique blend of Afrobeats and pop and has been a rising star since his debut in 2019. But his sophomore album, “Rave & Roses,” has propelled him to an entirely new level of stardom and accomplishment.
“Rave & Roses” is Rema’s 16-track debut album, released in March 2022.
Rema’s hit song, “Calm Down”, featuring Selena Gomez, also rose to number 6 on the US Billboard chart.

Afrobeats is ruling the world!

EMEKS MUSIC

TEMS WINS HER FIRST GRAMMY AWARD

The Nigerian singer, Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has won her first Grammy Award. The 2023 Grammy award which was the 65^th edition held on Sunday night February 5 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, United States.

She won the ‘Best Melodic Rap Performance’ category for her role in ‘Wait for U’, the 2022 hit song by Future, featuring Drake.

EMEKS MUSIC

REMA BECOMES ARTISTE WITH THE MOST VIEWED MUSIC VIDEO IN NIGERIA IN 2022

Famous Nigerian musician and rapper, Divine Ikubor, professionally known by his stage name Rema, has become the 2022 Nigerian artiste with the most viewed music video on YouTube.

The 22-years-old singer, beat his senior colleagues, Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, Daniel Oluwatobiloba Anidugbe known as Kizz Daniel and others to win the title.
A compiled list released on 30th December by renowned digital eco-system firm, Dataleum and data intelligence, which analysed views from official music videos in 2022, disclosed that Rema’s hit music ‘Calm Down’ video got 313 million views, while the remix featuring Selena Gomez has 204 million views.
Following closely was Burna Boy’s ‘Last Last’ which garnered over 144 million views, and Kizz Daniel’s ‘Buga’ with 110 million views.
Rema song “Calm Down,” remix, which was influenced by Selena Gomez, is one of the biggest of 2022, surpassing 300 million views on YouTube in just 10 months.

THE 10 BEST AFROPOP SONGS IN NIGERIA FOR 2022

There's no doubt that Nigerian artistes are leading the Afropop music genre in the world.

AFROPOP according to Rollingstone Magazine "is a catch-all term casting a wide net over the diverse musical approaches originating and dominating from Africa which has long been a center of the Black diasporic experience, from which so much of pop culture borrows"
Here are the ten most popular Afropop Songs and artistes that ruled the airwaves and streets of Nigeria in 2022:

1. Kizz Daniel’s single “Buga” featuring Tekno is no doubt the most popular song in Nigeria in 2022. There's no home or street across Nigeria that you'll not hear the Buga song, even the Buga dance challenge became very popular in the social media space.

2. “Last Last” by Burna Boy is the 2nd most popular song in 2022. Burna delivers an instant classic Afropop breakup song that will keep us dancing for a long time to come.

3. “Calm Down” by Rema is one of the many standout moments on his debut album, Rave & Roses. With a hypnotic guitar loop and a rhythmic bounce as bedrock, Rema narrates a tale about a romantic connection he has with a girl he first met at a party. The song released on Mavin Records was really another banger!

4. Ayra Starr's hit song "Rush" was well accepted as it ruled the Nigerian airwaves in 2022. Her super and daring fashion sense has added glamour that lifted the young artist to an African superstar status.

5. “Overdose” a Mavin Records all-star’s single produced by Don Jazzy featuring Ayra Starr, Crayon, Ladipoe, Magixx, and Boy Spyce is bright, youthful, and lovelorn, with each artists’ distinct voice shining and melding at once. Amassing over 200 million streams across platforms, the song was a 2022 Nigerian smash hit.

6. Adekunle Gold's "5 Star" made a tremendous impact in the Nigerian airwaves in 2022. After dropping his fourth album, Catch Me If You Can, in February, he toured the U.S. and capped 2022 with a jubilant homecoming show in Lagos on Dec. 18. While onstage in the States, he previewed “5 Star,” which made its way to streaming services in July.

7. On the 7th position is Asake's single “Omo Ope” Arriving at the start of 2022 with this eruptive Olamide-assisted single Asake asserted himself with relatable lyrics and anthemic choruses. The rest as they say is history suffice it to say that the rest of the year would find him dominating with ease, especially after dropping his debut album, Mr. Money With the Vibe.

8. Asake’s song “Joha” became an early fan favorite off the project of his debut album, Mr. Money With the Vibe, armed to the teeth with evocative poetry and memorable melodies. Rollingstone Magazine has observed that "since its release, Asake has continued to collect musical successes including TikTok virality and sold-out shows across the U.K. and U.S. All hail the king of sounds and blues."

9. Lojay's 2021 hit “Monalisa” still dominated the first quarter of 2022. 

10. Aṣa's song “Show Me Off” from her fifth studio album released in 2022 was a great song just like the other hypnotizing tracks in the album, all buoyant drums and sunny guitar. According to Rollingstone Magazine “Show Me Off, is a solo showcase, Aṣa’s heavenly falsetto effortless as she sings with the quiet assurance of someone who knows music is their calling."

 

EMEKS MUSIC