Ifunanya Nwangene, an upcoming Nigerian singer, has died after suffering a snake bite in her Abuja home in late January.
The 26 year old was reportedly bitten by a snake while she was asleep in her residence in Abuja’s Lugbe district.
The former contestant on The Voice Nigeria (Season 3) sought urgent medical attention. Initial treatment challenges included a clinic that did not have antivenom available.
Ifunanya, who is a trained architect, was later taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, where emergency care was provided.
Despite treatment efforts, including antivenom and other life-saving measures, she died from severe complications related to the snake bite. FMC officials described her death as due to neurotoxic effects from the venom.
Ifunanya first gained national attention after her performance on The Voice Nigeria, where she turned two chairs with her rendition of Rihanna’s “Take a Bow.”
She was known by the stage name “NANYAH,” shared music online, and was preparing for her first solo concert and new projects at the time of her death.
Members of the Amemuso Choir, in which she sang as a soprano, and fellow artists have paid tribute to her talent and contributions.
The news has sparked broader discussion in Nigeria about emergency healthcare availability, especially access to antivenom in hospitals, though the treating hospital stated it provided prompt treatment.
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