Singer and Former Voice Contestant, 26, Dies After Being Bitten by Snake in Her Sleep
Ifunanya Nwangene was reportedly planning her first-ever solo concert ahead of her Jan. 31 death
NEED TO KNOW
Ifunanya Nwangene died after a snake bit her in her sleep on Jan. 31; she was 26
Nwangene was an aspiring singer, who appeared on season 3 of The Voice Nigeria, and an architect
“The pain of saying goodbye to someone whose voice and energy brought joy, inspiration, and even healing to many is heavy,” a collaborator wrote of the late musician
Ifunanya Nwangene, a rising singer who appeared on season 3 of The Voice Nigeria, has died after suffering a snake bite. She was 26, according to BBC Africa.
Music director Sam C. Ezugwu with Amemuso Choir, which Nwangene participated in, confirmed her “sudden” death in a statement shared on Facebook on Sunday, Feb. 1. Nwangene died “due to a snake bite” at a Nigerian hospital on Saturday, Jan. 31, according to the statement.
“Amemuso Choir [regrets] to announce the sudden demise of our beloved soprano,” the choir wrote. “A rising star, Ifunanya was on the cusp of sharing her incredible talent with the world. Her voice and spirit will be deeply missed.”
Nwangene, originally born in Enugu, was bitten by a snake in Abuja, where she lived, according to BBC Africa. The outlet spoke with several of her fellow choir members, including Hillary Obinna, who shared more details about the fatal bite.
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Ifunanya Nwangene.
Ifunanya Nwangene/Instagram
The Voice Nigeria alum — who was also an architect — was asleep when “the snake bite woke her up,” Obinna told BBC Africa. He also claimed to the outlet that two snakes were later discovered in her home.
Footage circulating on social media shows a snake handler taking one of the reptiles from the residence, according to the outlet.
The soprano singer attempted to get treatment for the snake bite at a nearby clinic, but no antivenom was available, so she sought further assistance at a hospital, according to BBC Africa.
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Ezugwu identified the hospital as Federal Medical Center in his post announcing her death.
The Nigeria Police Force did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on Sunday.
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Nwangene first gained a following after turning two chairs on The Voice Nigeria’s third season with her rendition of Rihanna’s “Take a Bow.” The official YouTube video for her audition has more than 80,000 views.
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Ifunanya Nwangene on ‘The Voice Nigeria’.
The Voice Nigeria/YouTube
The late singer shared covers — including more Rihanna — and original music on her YouTube channel, and her final Instagram post teased a “new project” with another Nigerian musician, who goes by Tbrass.
Following her death, Tbrass revealed that Nwangene had been at his studio on Jan. 28, recording a feature for his next album. He wrote a tribute to the late artist alongside a video of her singing into a microphone.
“An irreplaceable loss to the Abuja music society and Nigeria at large💔,” the artist wrote of Nwangene. “My hand and heart feels very heavy writing this, because it is unimaginable [losing] such a young promising great, talented music artist who touched so many lives, it is very heartbreaking — especially in Nigeria where music runs deep in our souls and connects us all.”
He continued, “The pain of saying goodbye to someone whose voice and energy brought joy, inspiration, and even healing to many is heavy. From her unique voice, to the stories she told through songs, and the way she represented our culture and struggles, Nanya was a true artist who left an irreplaceable mark.”
At the time of her death, the “rising star” had been planning her first solo concert for 2026, Ezugwu told BBC Africa. The music director also stated that he will share more information regarding the singer’s “burial arrangements” on the official Amemuso Choir Facebook account.
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