Ifunanya Nwangene Dies at 26 After Fatal Snake Bite
Nigerian singer and former The Voice Nigeria contestant Ifunanya Nwangene has tragically passed away at the age of 26 after being bitten by a snake while at home in Abuja.
The soprano participated in the third season of the popular singing competition and was eliminated during the knockout stage in 2021. Her promising music career had been steadily growing, with plans to hold her first solo concert later this year.
According to reports from BBC Africa, two snakes were discovered in her residence after the fatal bite. She was first taken to a nearby clinic that did not have the necessary antivenom. She was later transferred to a hospital that reportedly had only one of the two antivenoms needed to treat the bite.
Sam Ezugwu, co-founder and music director of the Amemuso Choir, where Nwangene also performed, rushed to the hospital to be with her. He explained that she was struggling to breathe and could only communicate through hand gestures. By the time he returned with the second antivenom, she had passed away.
The Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, responded to the reports, stating that the antivenom was available and that their medical team provided proper treatment. This included resuscitation efforts, intravenous fluids, intranasal oxygen, and polyvalent snake antivenom. The hospital said that Nwangene’s complications were severe and that all available interventions were promptly administered.
Beyond her music, Nwangene was a trained architect. Friends and colleagues remember her as humble, intelligent, and exceptionally talented. Hillary Obinna, a close friend, said, “Everyone is devastated. She was a very wonderful girl who touched many lives with her talent and kindness.”
Her sudden death has shocked fans, fellow contestants, and the Nigerian music community, highlighting the unpredictability of life and the loss of a rising star with great promise.
