The Nigerian capital’s creative community has been plunged into mourning following the untimely death of Ifunanya Nwangene, a promising soprano popularly known by her stage name, Nanyah. The singer passed away on Saturday, 31st January 2026, after a frantic but ultimately unsuccessful search for life-saving medical treatment following a snake bite at her residence.
Reports indicate that Miss Nwangene’s final hours were defined by a harrowing race against time. Following the envenomation at her home, she initially sought emergency care at a medical facility in the Lugbe district. However, she was reportedly turned away due to the unavailability of anti-venom.
Undeterred, the singer secured a private hire vehicle to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), but the delay in accessing the specific serum proved catastrophic.
The Amemuso Choir, where Miss Nwangene was a cherished member of the soprano section, confirmed the tragic news via a formal statement.
“Amemuso Choir regrets to announce the sudden demise of our beloved soprano, Ifunanya Nwangene,” the statement read. “A rising star, Ifunanya was at the cusp of sharing her incredible talent with the world. Her voice and spirit will be deeply missed.”
Sam Ezugwu, the Music Director of Amemuso, provided a poignant account of the efforts made to save the singer’s life. After seeing a distressed plea for assistance on Miss Nwangene’s social media page, Mr Ezugwu rushed to the Federal Medical Centre.
Upon his arrival, medical staff informed him that the patient required two doses of anti-venom to stabilise her condition. Critically, the hospital had only one dose in stock, which had already been administered.
“I drove ten minutes to a pharmacy near the National Hospital to procure the second dose,” Mr Ezugwu recounted. “As I was returning, I received a call informing me that Ifunanya had passed away. She was pronounced dead at 12:20 p.m.”
While officials at the FMC maintained that treatment commenced immediately upon her arrival at their facility, the tragedy has reignited public discourse regarding the lack of essential medical supplies in primary and tertiary health centres.
The loss of Miss Nwangene, described by colleagues as a “rising star” on the verge of international recognition, serves as a sobering reminder of the fragile infrastructure supporting emergency medical responses in the Federal Capital Territory.
Funeral arrangements for the late singer are expected to be announced by her family in the coming days.
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