There has been an outpouring of grief in Nigeria following the death of an aspiring singer who died on Saturday after being bitten by a snake in the capital, Abuja. Ifunanya Nwangene, 26, rose to prominence after appearing on The Voice Nigeria, the local version of the international TV singing competition, in 2021. She was known for her versatility, blending jazz, opera, classical music and soul.
Videos shared on social media show a snake handler removing a snake from her apartment, as people nearby can be heard screaming: 'It is a cobra!'
A close friend, Sam Ezugwu, the co-founder and music director of the Amemuso Choir where she sang, told the BBC that Nwangene was a 'rising star'. He recounted her plans for her first solo concert later this year and noted that she was also a trained architect. He described how Nwangene had been asleep when 'the snake bite woke her up'.
Two snakes were later found in her house. Following the bite, she initially sought treatment at a nearby clinic, but they did not have antivenom. She then went to a hospital that had one of the required antivenoms, but not the other.
Ezugwu expressed his grief as he dashed to find the missing antivenom only to return to find that she had passed away. He recalled how the entire choir had gathered at the hospital, hoping for a miracle.
Nwangene's death joins a troubling chorus of healthcare challenges in Nigeria, including a renewed debate about the quality of healthcare and medical negligence, especially in life-threatening situations. The recent death of novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s 21-month-old son has added to this scrutiny.
This tragedy also highlights the growing issue of snakebites in Nigeria, particularly given that many victims usually live in rural areas. The WHO classifies venomous snakebites as a neglected public health issue, with sub-Saharan Africa witnessing about 30,000 deaths annually due to snakebites -- a situation exacerbated by the unavailability of adequate medical care and resources.
Videos shared on social media show a snake handler removing a snake from her apartment, as people nearby can be heard screaming: 'It is a cobra!'
A close friend, Sam Ezugwu, the co-founder and music director of the Amemuso Choir where she sang, told the BBC that Nwangene was a 'rising star'. He recounted her plans for her first solo concert later this year and noted that she was also a trained architect. He described how Nwangene had been asleep when 'the snake bite woke her up'.
Two snakes were later found in her house. Following the bite, she initially sought treatment at a nearby clinic, but they did not have antivenom. She then went to a hospital that had one of the required antivenoms, but not the other.
Ezugwu expressed his grief as he dashed to find the missing antivenom only to return to find that she had passed away. He recalled how the entire choir had gathered at the hospital, hoping for a miracle.
Nwangene's death joins a troubling chorus of healthcare challenges in Nigeria, including a renewed debate about the quality of healthcare and medical negligence, especially in life-threatening situations. The recent death of novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s 21-month-old son has added to this scrutiny.
This tragedy also highlights the growing issue of snakebites in Nigeria, particularly given that many victims usually live in rural areas. The WHO classifies venomous snakebites as a neglected public health issue, with sub-Saharan Africa witnessing about 30,000 deaths annually due to snakebites -- a situation exacerbated by the unavailability of adequate medical care and resources.
