Ifunanya Nwangene, a 26-year-old singer who competed on Season 3 of The Voice Nigeria, died on January 31, after being bitten by a snake while sleeping in her Abuja, Nigeria, apartment.
Sam C. Ezugwu, music director of the Amemuso Choir where Nwangene served as a soprano, confirmed her death at a hospital. The snake bite woke her up during the night, prompting an urgent rush for medical care.
After the bite occurred, Nwangene went to a nearby clinic that had no antivenom available to treat the injury. She was then transferred to the Federal Medical Centre Jabi for emergency treatment.
Ezugwu told the BBC that when he arrived at the hospital, medical staff were attempting to stabilize the young singer. “While they were trying to stabilise her, she could not speak, but she could make hand gestures. She was struggling to breathe,” he said.
The hospital reportedly had one of the required antivenoms but not the other type needed for treatment. Ezugwu left the facility to search for the second antivenom dose, but Nwangene died before he could return with the medication.
The Federal Medical Centre Jabi denied that antivenom was unavailable. 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.”
Animal control officials were dispatched to Nwangene’s apartment following the incident. They captured two snakes found inside the residence. A cobra was identified as one of the snakes removed from the apartment.
Hillary Obinna, a friend of the singer, confirmed that the snake bite woke her up from sleep, setting off the chain of events that led to her tragic death.
Nwangene gained national recognition when she competed on The Voice Nigeria in 2021. During her audition, she performed Rihanna’s Take a Bow, delivering a powerful rendition that impressed the show’s coaches. The performance earned her two chair turns from judges.
She chose to join the team led by Waje, a prominent Nigerian singer. Nwangene advanced through several rounds of competition before being eliminated during the Knockouts round.
Known for her jazz-operatic singing style, Nwangene had built a following on YouTube under the name NANYAH. She also worked professionally as an architect while pursuing her music career.
In the days before her death, Nwangene was actively working on new music projects. She had teased an upcoming collaboration with Nigerian musician Tbrass and was planning her first solo concert.
Following her passing, Tbrass posted a tribute on social media Saturday, January 31, “An irreplaceable loss to the Abuja music society and Nigeria at large,” he wrote on Instagram.
The Amemuso Choir announced the singer’s death in a Facebook post describing her as a rising star. The statement noted that Nwangene “was on the cusp of sharing her incredible talent with the world.”
Snake bites remain a significant public health concern in Nigeria and across sub-Saharan Africa. The World Health Organization estimates that venomous snakes cause between 81,000 and 138,000 deaths globally each year, with the vast majority occurring in rural and impoverished regions of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Nigeria experiences thousands of snakebite cases annually, with fatality rates influenced by factors including delayed access to medical care, limited antivenom availability, and the distance victims must travel to reach equipped facilities.
Cobras, including several species native to Nigeria, possess neurotoxic venom that can cause respiratory failure if left untreated. Effective treatment requires rapid administration of species-specific antivenom, which must be stored under proper refrigeration and has a limited shelf life. Many rural clinics and even some urban medical centers struggle to maintain adequate antivenom supplies due to cost, storage requirements, and inconsistent distribution networks.
The presence of venomous snakes in urban residences, while less common than in rural areas, does occur in Nigerian cities like Abuja. Snakes may enter homes seeking shelter, water, or prey such as rodents. Residential snake encounters increase during certain seasons and in areas where urban development encroaches on natural habitats.
Medical experts emphasize that snake bite victims should be transported immediately to the nearest facility capable of providing antivenom treatment. Time is critical, as venom effects can progress rapidly. Victims should remain as calm and still as possible during transport to slow the spread of venom through the bloodstream.
The entertainment community in Nigeria and beyond mourned the loss of the young artist, whose career was gaining momentum. Nwangene’s appearance on The Voice Nigeria had opened doors for her in the competitive Nigerian music industry, where she was developing a distinctive style that blended jazz and operatic influences.
Her dual career as both an architect and a singer demonstrated the versatility and determination that characterized her approach to professional life. Many Nigerian artists maintain multiple careers while building their presence in the music industry, navigating the challenges of establishing themselves in a vibrant but competitive entertainment landscape.
The Amemuso Choir, where Nwangene performed as a soprano, indicated that additional information about burial arrangements would be shared through their official Facebook account.
