A young artist who once lit up the stage on the The Voice Nigeria has died in a sudden and tragic accident.
According to Us Weekly, Ifunanya Nwangene, a former contestant on the show’s third season, passed away at 26 after being bitten by a snake while she slept at her home in the capital city of Abuja.
Music director Sam C. Ezugwu, speaking on behalf of the Amemuso Choir, confirmed the news in a public message, calling Nwangene’s death “a sudden loss” for the group.
He described her as “a rising star” whose talent was just beginning to reach a wider audience, adding that her voice and presence would be “deeply missed.”
Friends said the bite happened overnight. Fellow choir member Hillary Obinna said that Nwangene was asleep when the incident occurred and that “the snake bite woke her up.”
Two snakes were later found inside the residence, according to those at the scene.
She was first taken to a nearby clinic, but couldn’t receive immediate treatment because antivenom wasn’t available. She was then transported to a hospital, where she later died.
Nwangene balanced music with another career, working professionally as an architect while continuing to build her profile as a vocalist. Her audition on The Voice Nigeria helped introduce her to a national audience, where her take on Rihanna’s “Take a Bow” earned multiple chair turns from the coaches.
Outside the show, she kept recording covers and original tracks and was collaborating with other artists. Just days before her death, she had been in the studio working on new music.
Nigerian musician Tbrass, who had recently recorded with her, shared a tribute in his Instagram Stories, writing that losing her felt “unimaginable” and calling her “an irreplaceable loss to the Abuja music community and Nigeria at large.”
According to choir members, Nwangene had also been planning her first solo concert later this year.
Funeral details are expected to be shared by the Amemuso Choir in the coming days.
