Snake bite ends promising career of Nigerian music star

Ifunanya Nwangene, a 26-year-old aspiring Nigerian singer, has died after being bitten by a snake in Abuja on Saturday, January 31, 2026.

Nwangene became well-known after appearing on The Voice Nigeria in 2021. She was known for mixing jazz, opera, classical music, and soul in her singing.

Videos shared online show a snake handler removing a snake from her home while bystanders shouted, “It is a cobra!”

Amemuso Choir, where Nwangene sang, confirmed her death on social media, saying she would be “deeply missed.”

“Amemuso Choir regrets to announce the sudden passing of our beloved soprano Ifunanya Nwangene at Federal Medical Centre due to a snake bite,” the choir said. “She was a rising star about to share her incredible talent with the world. Her voice and spirit will be deeply missed.”

Sam Ezugwu, a close friend and co-founder of the choir, told the BBC that Nwangene had been planning her first solo concert this year. She was also a trained architect.

Another friend, Hillary Obinna, said Nwangene was asleep when the snake bite woke her. Two snakes were later found in her house.

Nwangene first went to a nearby clinic but was referred to a hospital because the clinic did not have the needed antivenom. The hospital had one type of antivenom but not the other.

Ezugwu said, “While they were trying to stabilize her, she could not speak but could make hand gestures. She was struggling to breathe.”

He added that he left to find the missing antivenom but returned to discover that she had died. The choir gathered at the hospital that evening, “hoping for a miracle.”

Obinna described Nwangene as “a very wonderful girl, humble, intelligent, and talented. Everyone is shattered. We could not sleep at night.