Ten Hits That Celebrate Onyeka Onwenu’s Musical Career

At the stretch of her musical career, Onyeka Onwenu stands as a towering icon in the Nigerian entertainment industry spanning music, film, journalism, and advocacy. Renowned for her impact and versatility, Onwenu has left an indelible mark at her demise. Her influence is perhaps most vividly felt in her songs. These tracks showcase her artistic brilliance and reflect her appeal to audiences across the younger generation.

From powerful anthems advocating for unity and social change to soulful tracks that explore love, and diss tracks to ex, every song in her collection highlights a different facet of her talent and personality.

Here are ten songs that celebrate her role and contributions to shaping the Nigerian music scene

Ekwe 

Ekwe is one of the hits that define Onyeka Onwenu’s illustrious music career. A standout track on her album Golden Songs Vol. 2, this song masterfully blends traditional Igbo folk sounds with Funk, creating a unique sound.

The track released in 1984 tells the story of a devoted lover whose affections are unreciprocated by a woman who is uninterested in his advances. The song’s emotional depth is complemented by its rich musical fusion, which highlights Onwenu’s ability to seamlessly blend sounds. The track has resonated with audiences beyond Onwenu’s performances; artists like Omawumi and Chidinma have also covered it, each bringing their charm to the song. Interestingly, Ekwe is not just a song about unrequited love but also a diss track aimed at an ex-lover and baby daddy. This duality—combining heartfelt storytelling with a subtle message of empowerment and rejection—demonstrates Onwenu’s skill in addressing personal and emotional themes. 

Ochie Dike

Off her Golden Songs album of 1986, Onyeka Onwenu delivers a heartfelt tribute to mothers on Ochie Dike, celebrating their invaluable contributions to homes and families. 

Onwenu’s lyrics resonate with deep admiration and respect, reflecting on the tireless efforts and sacrifices that mothers make to ensure the smooth operation of their households. Through its soulful melody, Ochie Dike highlights the impact that women have in shaping and supporting their families, elevating their everyday heroism to a place of cherished recognition. 

In 2016, Ochie Dike was remixed with Nigerian rapper, Phyno pushing the appeal to contemporary listeners serving as a powerful homage to the excellence and dedication of women, honoring their roles in nurturing and sustaining familial bonds.

Bia Nulu

Bia Nulu which loosely translates to “please hear our prayers” is a moving record that comes in handy in the face of the current economic situation in Nigeria. On the track, Onwenu goes spiritual, invoking the divine presence of God to address the pressing needs of her people. With heartfelt sincerity, she beseeches God to hear the cries and struggles of His people, pleading for relief and intervention in their times of hardship.

Onyeka Onwenu uses her powerful voice to articulate the collective burdens and challenges faced by her people through her evocative lyrics and soulful delivery and calls for divine compassion seeking to uplift and ease the suffering experienced by those around her. 

One Love

One Love remains an enduring classic, resonating as a timeless anthem for national unity. In this track, Onyeka Onwenu passionately advocates for the cohesive spirit of Nigeria, emphasizing the vital importance of love as a guiding force for the nation. 

Through her stirring lyrics, Onwenu calls upon the collective heart of the Nigerian people to embrace love as the central beacon of their shared identity. The song urges citizens to put aside differences and come together with a sense of unity and solidarity. By championing love as the foundation for harmony and progress, One Love reflects Onwenu’s deep commitment to her country and the hopeful reminder of the strength and potential that lies in national unity.

You And I

You And I stands as an excellent fusion of funk and jazz influences within Nigerian pop music during the 1980s. On You and I, Onyeka Onwenu skillfully integrates these genres with local musical sounds, using a blend of pidgin and Igbo languages to create a timeless love song. Onwenu’s adept use of pidgin and Igbo enhances the song’s authenticity but also broadens its appeal across diverse audiences.

You And I, has secured its place as a classic, frequently featured as a soundtrack in Nigerian films. Its enduring popularity speaks to its emotional appeal and how it captures the essence of love while reflecting the musical scene of 1980s Nigeria.

Iyogogo

Onyeka Onwenu was one of a handful of the artistes of her era who legitimately possessed a timeless appeal. Iyogogo, released in the wake of her mainstream ascendancy in 1986, is emblematic of this ageless appeal. Iyogogo sees Onyeka characteristically sunny. It is a fluttering love letter pointedly aimed at a love interest — but it’s simultaneously a rallying call, beckoning on anyone who would listen to partake in her revelry.  Over sprightly Highlife instrumentals interspersed with joyous yodeling, she enjoins her love interest to follow her to the church where they would get married. 

Living Music 

Throughout her career, Onyeka Onwenu constantly explored aspects of her Christian faith through her music. Her devotion to God was a central fixture of her life, so much so that in 1992, following her self-titled album Onyeka, she made the pivot to Christian/Gospel music. Living Music was released a decade earlier, just at the dawn of her career. While Living Music is simple in its form — with a single verse and a chorus iterating almost for the full length of the song—the words she deploys, in her native Igbo, are psalmic and stark, telegraphing reverence to God.

Alleluya

Alleluya was released to ineffable acclaim. Since its release, it has found a home in the Nigerian Gospel music canon.  Whether it’s an Anglican church service in Eastern Nigeria or a family morning devotion session, the pensive melody of Alleluya can be heard from solemn Christian faithfuls expressing their unflinching devotion to God. It’s a testament to her enduring legacy and her purity of spirit. Over a groovy production that recalls Brenda Fassie’s Vuli Ndlela, she at once unspools the depths of her gratitude to God and pledges eternal fealty to God. 

Wait For Me

Wait For Me is a duet by Onyeka Onwenu and King Sunny Ade, released in 1989. It’s a love song, but not the typical love song. It swaps out ebullience for caution and lustful yearning for a didactic message. Following its release, against the backdrop of mounting advocacy for family planning, it soon became an anthem for responsible parenthood. Over the skittering production, they sing “If you love me, you’ll wait for me”, extolling the virtue of sexual piety and careful family planning. 

Dancing in the Sun

Dancing in the Sun marked a departure from the vivacity that coloured Onyeka Onwenu’s earlier pop records. It’s not entirely pensive, but on Dancing in the Sun, she’s more introspective, more measured, more tuned in on the chatter of her detractors. On the first verse she sings “Born a mystery of masquerade. Controversy is everybody’s name. People asking just who you are.” It also functions as a crucible of sorts, fusing the disparate sounds she flirted with over her career — Highlife, 80’s Disco & Gospel. Over the panoramic production, she’s brooding and philosophical, weaving in and out of existential themes and didactic missives.