There has been an outpouring of grief in Nigeria following the death of an aspiring singer who died on Saturday after being bitten by a snake in the capital, Abuja. Ifunanya Nwangene, 26, rose to prominence after appearing on The Voice Nigeria, the local version of the international TV singing competition, in 2021. She was known for her versatility, blending jazz, opera, classical music, and soul.
Videos shared on social media show a snake handler removing a snake from her apartment, as people nearby can be heard screaming: 'It is a cobra!' A close friend, Sam Ezugwu, the co-founder and music director of the Amemuso Choir where she sang, told the BBC that Nwangene was a 'rising star.' He said she had been planning to stage her first solo concert later this year. She was also a trained architect. Hillary Obinna, another friend who sang alongside her, mentioned she had been asleep when 'the snake bite woke her up.' Two snakes were later found in her house.
Nwangene sought treatment at a nearby clinic, but they did not have any antivenom, leading her to a hospital that had some of the required antivenoms but not all. Ezugwu recounted rushing around to find missing antivenom only to return and find Nwangene had died. The tragedy has intensified the public discourse on the quality of healthcare in Nigeria, particularly amidst recent allegations of medical negligence. Families affected by these cases are left mourning their losses while the health minister acknowledges systemic challenges and calls for improvements.
Videos shared on social media show a snake handler removing a snake from her apartment, as people nearby can be heard screaming: 'It is a cobra!' A close friend, Sam Ezugwu, the co-founder and music director of the Amemuso Choir where she sang, told the BBC that Nwangene was a 'rising star.' He said she had been planning to stage her first solo concert later this year. She was also a trained architect. Hillary Obinna, another friend who sang alongside her, mentioned she had been asleep when 'the snake bite woke her up.' Two snakes were later found in her house.
Nwangene sought treatment at a nearby clinic, but they did not have any antivenom, leading her to a hospital that had some of the required antivenoms but not all. Ezugwu recounted rushing around to find missing antivenom only to return and find Nwangene had died. The tragedy has intensified the public discourse on the quality of healthcare in Nigeria, particularly amidst recent allegations of medical negligence. Families affected by these cases are left mourning their losses while the health minister acknowledges systemic challenges and calls for improvements.
