Veteran Nollywood actress, Joke Silva, has opened up about her emotional final moments with the late singer Onyeka Onwenu, who passed away in July 2024.
Silva shared these memories in an interview as Onwenu was recently laid to rest at the Ebony Vaults in Ikoyi, Lagos State, on August 30.
In a heartfelt conversation with media personality WithChude, Silva revealed that she was present when the tragic event happened.
She recounted being seated next to Late celebrity singer and actress, Onyeka Onwenu, at the 80th birthday celebration of Stella Okolie, CEO of Emzor Pharmaceuticals, when the beloved singer suddenly collapsed.
“We were at the party together at the same table,” Silva said, recalling the poignant moments before the tragedy. “At some point, when she was going around the room during her performance, she came to me, pulled me up, and we shared a moment dancing.”
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Onwenu’s final performance was marked by one of her all-time hit songs “One Love,” a track that resonated with many throughout her career. Silva continued, “While singing ‘One Love,’ we both returned to our seats. I later noticed Shola Momoh saying, ‘She’s not well, she slumped on her chair.’ At that moment, she was unconscious but still had a pulse.”
The efforts made to save Onwenu were immediately taken. According to Joke Silva, CPR was performed right there on the floor, and doctors present at the event were called in to assist.
While measures were taken to keep the singer alive, it was reported that she still had a pulse, before being rushed to the hospital. Unfortunately, despite medical intervention, including an hour and a half of treatment at the hospital, Onwenu could not be revived.
Her sudden passing left a deep void in the Nigerian entertainment industry, and her impact on many artists is a life-lasting gift.
