VANGUARD
MANY things have been said and written about Onyeka Onwenu since her sudden demise on
Tuesday, July 30, after performing at the 80th birthday party of Chief Stella Okoli, owner of Emzor Pharmaceuticals. But nothing much has been said about the many battles that the iconic singer fought while alive.
Right from the time Onwenu came into the limelight as a musician of reckoning in the 80s, till her last day on this planet, the “One Love” singer, had always been at the forefront of fighting for justice no matter whose ox was gored.
However, Onwenu would admit that her real battle in the music circuit started after the duets she did with the King Sunny Ade, titled, “Choices” and “Waiting for Me.” The songs followed their early love song ,” Madawonloum” , which was about a couple who ignored all that was being said about them and their relationship.
A rumoured love affair with KSA
As recounted in her memoir, “My Father’s Daughter”, Onwenu said, the release of the love song,” Madawonloum” made many believe that KSA and herself were involved in a love affair.
She further narrated: “ In 1989, KSA came calling again. This time, he requested that I write duets. This was a Johns Hopkins University and the United States Agency for International Development(USAID) project to increase awareness of family planning issues.
“We were to use music as an advocacy tool for the promotion of family planning and responsible sexual behaviour for the unmarried.
“On the back of this project, we recorded two songs, “Choices” and “Wait for Me.” Just as the songs gained more appeal, there was a second onslaught of wild rumours of King Sunny Ade and I in a sizzling relationship that had allegedly led to a secret love child, a daughter.
“The rumours were so pervasive that even the former Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida asked me about the veracity though jokingly
“ I took it all in my stride at first. As an artist, I learnt to live by the reality of all publicity being good or bad. It seemed to me that putting out an official denial would fuel the rumours.“However, I became angry when the gossip got to my four-year-old son. The driver of one of his school friends had told my son that KSA was his father.
“This was very upsetting to Abraham. When he came home that day from school with this disturbing story, I went straight to the mother of his friend, the employer of the said driver, hoping that she would reprimand him. But instead, she said ‘I have heard it too, and I had told the driver that even if it were true, he should not repeat it to anyone’.“I immediately severed my relationship with the woman and all that came with her, to prevent any further damage to my son’s sense of well-being.“I put out a statement through my publicist, debunking the rumours. I equally addressed the issue during interviews on radio and television. It seemed to quell the rumours for some time. However, I began to receive threatening telephone calls from some of KSA’s female fans. On the launch of the songs, “Choices and Waiting for Me”, at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, many had gathered to witness the official wedding of KSA and Onyeka Onwenu as rumoured. I daresay, they were disappointed as the launch brought me much relief.
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