Ifunanya Nwangene, a former Season 3 contestant of The Voice Nigeria, died on Jan. 31 after being bitten by a snake in her home in Abuja, Nigeria. The 26-year-old singer had been asleep when the incident occurred.
Sam C. Ezugwu, the music director of the Amemuso Choir, confirmed that Nwangene passed away at a hospital. He stated that she was rushed for medical attention immediately after the snakebite.
Nwangene was first treated at a nearby clinic that lacked the required antivenom. She was then moved to the Federal Medical Centre Jabi for urgent treatment.
Upon reaching the hospital, Ezugwu told the BBC that doctors were attempting to stabilize her condition. He explained, “While they were trying to stabilize her, she could not speak, but she could make hand gestures. She was struggling to breathe.”
According to Ezugwu, the hospital administered one antivenom but requested that they obtain additional doses due to limited supply. Ezugwu went out to secure more antivenom, but tragically, Nwangene died before he returned with it.
The Federal Medical Centre Jabi, however, disputed claims of inadequate antivenom. The facility stated, “Our medical staff provided immediate and appropriate treatment, including resuscitation efforts, intravenous fluids, intranasal oxygen, and the administration of polyvalent snake antivenom.”
After the event, animal control officers were dispatched to Nwangene’s home, where they captured two snakes on the property, one confirmed to be a cobra.
A friend, Hillary Obinna, said the snakebite startled Nwangene awake, setting off the chain of events that ended in her passing.
Nwangene rose to public recognition when she appeared on The Voice Nigeria in 2021. Her strong performance of Rihanna’s “Take a Bow” earned her two chair turns from the coaches.
She chose to join the team of renowned Nigerian artist Waje Iruobe and advanced through several stages of the show before being eliminated during the Knockouts.
Nwangene, celebrated for her fusion of jazz and operatic vocal styles, built a YouTube audience under the name NANYAH. In addition to her musical pursuits, she worked as a professional architect. She had recently completed French language studies and left her job in architecture to devote herself fully to music.
In the days preceding her death, she was deeply involved in new musical projects. She had hinted at an upcoming collaboration with Nigerian artist Tbrass and was preparing for her debut solo show. On Jan. 28, just three days before her death, she recorded a feature for Tbrass’s forthcoming album.
After her passing, Tbrass honored her on social media, calling her loss “irreplaceable” for both Abuja’s music scene and the country at large.
The Amemuso Choir, where she performed as a soprano, grieved her death in a Facebook statement, describing her as a rising talent who was on the verge of sharing her exceptional artistry with a wider audience.
Snakebites remain a significant public health issue in Nigeria and across sub-Saharan Africa. The World Health Organization estimates that venomous snakes cause between 81,000 and 138,000 global deaths each year, most occurring in underserved regions of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Nigeria experiences thousands of cases annually, with mortality rates affected by delays in treatment, limited antivenom supplies, and the long distances many victims must travel to reach well-equipped medical centers.
Cobras, including species native to Nigeria, possess neurotoxic venom capable of causing respiratory failure without treatment. Fast administration of appropriate antivenom is critical. However, even some urban hospitals—and more so rural clinics—struggle to maintain sufficient stocks due to cost, storage needs, and inconsistent distribution.
Though encounters with venomous snakes are less frequent in city homes compared to rural areas, they still occur in urban centers like Abuja, particularly where development disrupts natural habitats. Medical specialists emphasize that snakebite victims should be taken immediately to the nearest facility capable of providing antivenom, as venom can act quickly.