By Ebi kesiena
Nigeria’s music community has been thrown into mourning following the death of Ifunanya Nwangene, a 26-year-old aspiring singer who died on Saturday after being bitten by a snake in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Nwangene gained national recognition in 2021 after appearing on The Voice Nigeria, where she impressed audiences with her versatility, seamlessly blending jazz, opera, classical music and soul. Beyond music, she was also a trained architect and an active member of the Amemuso Choir.
Videos circulating on social media showed a snake handler removing a snake from her apartment, as onlookers reacted in shock, with voices heard identifying the reptile as a cobra.
Speaking to the BBC, Sam Ezugwu, co-founder and music director of the Amemuso Choir, described Nwangene as a “rising star” with a promising future. He said she had been preparing to stage her first solo concert later this year.
Another close friend, Hillary Obinna, who sang alongside her, said he was informed that Nwangene had been asleep when the bite occurred. According to him, two snakes were later discovered in the apartment.
After the incident, Nwangene reportedly sought initial treatment at a nearby clinic, which did not have antivenom. She was subsequently taken to a hospital. Ezugwu said he rushed to the hospital upon hearing the news but was told that while one required antivenom was available, another was not.
“While they were trying to stabilise her, she could not speak but could make hand gestures,” Ezugwu said. “She was struggling to breathe.”
He added that he left the hospital to search for the missing antivenom but returned to learn that she had died. The BBC has contacted the hospital for comment.
Members of the Amemuso Choir gathered at the hospital that evening, Ezugwu said, “hoping that a miracle would happen.”
Obinna described Nwangene as “humble, intelligent and extremely talented,” adding that her death has left friends and colleagues devastated. “Everybody is shattered. We could not sleep at night,” he said.
Her death has reignited public debate in Nigeria over healthcare quality and patient safety, following a series of recent allegations of medical negligence. These include the widely reported death of the 21-month-old son of novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a case in which the hospital involved has denied wrongdoing.
Amid growing public concern, Nigeria’s health minister has acknowledged “systemic challenges” within the healthcare system and announced the establishment of a national task force on clinical governance and patient safety.
Snakebites in Nigeria are most commonly associated with rural areas, making Nwangene’s death in an upscale part of the capital particularly shocking to many. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies venomous snakebites as a neglected public health issue in many tropical and subtropical regions.
According to the WHO, Africa records between 435,000 and 580,000 snakebites requiring treatment each year, with the burden falling largely on women, children and farmers in rural communities where healthcare resources are limited. An estimated 30,000 deaths occur annually in sub-Saharan Africa, though experts believe the true figure may be significantly higher.
Specialists say chronic shortages of antivenom remain a major challenge, pushing many victims to seek help from traditional healers and leaving numerous cases unreported. Even when antivenom is available, high costs and storage difficulties, particularly the need for refrigeration in areas with unstable electricity, continue to hinder access to life-saving treatment.
