Ifunanya Nwangene, a talented vocalist who appeared on The Voice Nigeria‘s third season, has died at the age of 26 following a deadly snake bite.
The Enugu-born soprano vocalist, who worked as an architect, was bit by the poisonous snake at her home in Abuja, sources told BBC Africa.
Nwangene garnered attention in April of 2021 after her performance of the Rihanna ballad Take a Bow, which had amassed more than 85,000 YouTube views as of Sunday evening.
Nwangene was a member of the Amemuso Choir, BBC Africa reported, noting that the choir’s music director Sam Ezugwu posted a statement on Facebook confirming the tragic news Sunday.
‘With painful heart, we announce the [death] of Ifunanya Nwangene Nanyah,’ the statement from the choir read.
The Amemuso Choir said Ifunanya ‘was on the cusp of sharing her incredible talent with the world’ and that ‘her voice and spirit will be deeply missed’.
Ifunanya Nwangene, a talented vocalist who appeared on The Voice Nigeria’s third season, has died at the age of 26 following a deadly snake bite
Hillary Obinna, a member of the choir, told the BBC Africa that ‘the snake bite woke her up,’ and that officials later recovered two snakes from Nwangene’s home.
Nwangene initially sought medical assistance at a clinic in her area, but they did not have anti-venom on hand, the BBC Africa reported.
Nwangene then sought treatment at a hospital later identified as Federal Medical Centre, Jabi.
Ezugwu told the BBC that the hospital did not have both of the required anti-venom treatments on hand.
‘While they were trying to stabilise her, she could not speak but she could make hand gestures,’ Ezugwu told BBC Africa. ‘She was struggling to breathe.’
The hospital said in a statement to BBC Africa that the statement the hospital did not have the proper anti-venom treatments on hand were ‘unfounded and do not reflect the reality of the situation’.
Said the hospital: ‘Our medical staff provided immediate and appropriate treatment, including resuscitation efforts, intravenous fluids, intranasal oxygen, and the administration of polyvalent snake antivenom.’
The hospital said that a ‘thorough but quick’ exam showed that Nwangene had developed deadly complications from the bite and their medics were ‘unable to revive her’.
Nwangene garnered attention in April of 2021 after her performance of the Rihanna ballad Take a Bow
The Enugu-born vocalist was bit by the poisonous snake at her home in Abuja, sources told BBC Africa
Said the hospital: ‘We stand by the quality of care and dedication our team demonstrates daily.’
Obinna called Nwangene ‘a very wonderful girl’ who left behind a mourning community in the wake of her senseless passing.
‘Everybody is shattered,’ Obinna said. ‘We could not sleep at night. She is humble – very intelligent and very talented.’
On her own YouTube page, Nwangene had covered songs such as Rihanna’s Lift Me Up; Celine Dion’s My Heart Will Go On; and Slide Away by Miley Cyrus.
Nwangene had replied to her fans in a comment on the YouTube post of her Rihanna cover.
She wrote at the time under the handle @Nanyahmusic, ‘I appreciate all the comments. I’m encouraged and I will keep improving. Thank you everyone!’
