An aspiring Nigerian singer, Ifunanya Nwangene, has died after she was bitten by a snake in Abuja, sparking widespread grief across the country.
Nwangene, 26, passed away on Saturday following the incident, according to friends and reports. She gained public attention in 2021 after appearing on The Voice Nigeria, where she was admired for her versatility across jazz, opera, classical music and soul.
Videos circulating on social media showed a snake handler removing a snake from her apartment, while voices in the background could be heard identifying it as a cobra. Friends later confirmed that more than one snake was found in the house.
Speaking to the BBC, Sam Ezugwu, a close friend and the co-founder and music director of the Amemuso Choir where Nwangene sang, described her as a “rising star.” He said she had been preparing to stage her first solo concert later this year and noted that she was also a trained architect.
Another friend, Hillary Obinna, told the BBC that he was informed Nwangene had been asleep when the snake bite woke her up. He added that two snakes were later discovered in the apartment.
According to reports, Nwangene initially sought medical help at a nearby clinic but was referred to a hospital after it was discovered that the clinic did not have antivenom.
