Rising Nigerian Singer Dies After Snake Bite in Abuja
The 26-year-old rising star of The Voice Nigeria dies after a snake bite in her Abuja apartment despite receiving antivenom treatment
- Ifunanya Nwangene, 26, a rising Nigerian singer from The Voice Nigeria, died after being bitten by a snake in her Abuja apartment
- She received antivenom treatment at Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, but her condition deteriorated rapidly due to severe complications
- Her death has sparked concerns about healthcare quality, patient safety, and antivenom availability in Nigeria,
Nigeria is mourning the death of Ifunanya Nwangene, a 26-year-old aspiring singer who died on Saturday after being bitten by a snake in her apartment in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Nwangene, who gained recognition after appearing on The Voice Nigeria in 2021, was known for her versatility, blending jazz, opera, classical music, and soul. She had been planning her first solo concert later this year and was also a trained architect.
Videos circulating on social media show a snake handler removing a snake from her apartment while bystanders shouted, “It is a cobra!” According to friends, two snakes were later found inside the residence.
A close friend, Sam Ezugwu, co-founder of the Amemuso Choir, told the BBC that Nwangene had been asleep when the snake bite woke her. She initially sought treatment at a nearby clinic that lacked the necessary antivenom before being rushed to Federal Medical Centre, Jabi.
Ezugwu described her final moments: “While they were trying to stabilise her, she could not speak but could make hand gestures. She was struggling to breathe.” Despite resuscitation efforts, Nwangene could not be revived.
The hospital issued a statement denying claims of inadequate care, saying staff provided immediate treatment, including intravenous fluids, oxygen, and polyvalent snake antivenom. They noted her condition deteriorated rapidly due to severe complications from the bite.
Her death has reignited public debate in Nigeria about healthcare quality and patient safety, following recent high-profile cases of medical negligence. The health minister has acknowledged systemic challenges and announced the creation of a national task force on clinical governance and patient safety.
Snakebite fatalities are generally more common in rural areas, making Nwangene’s death in an upscale part of Abuja particularly shocking. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Africa records between 435,000 and 580,000 venomous snakebites annually, causing around 30,000 deaths in sub-Saharan Africa. Shortages of antivenom, high costs, and storage challenges contribute to the severity of the problem.
Friends and colleagues remember Nwangene as humble, intelligent, and immensely talented, with her sudden death leaving the music community and family devastated.
