Rising Nigerian Singer Dies After Cobra Bite in Abuja
Abuja, Nigeria – Tributes have poured in across Nigeria following the death of 26-year-old aspiring singer Ifunanya Nwangene, who died on Saturday after being bitten by a snake in her apartment in the capital.
Nwangene rose to national attention in 2021 after appearing on The Voice Nigeria, where she impressed audiences with her versatility, performing jazz, opera, classical, and soul music. She had also trained as an architect and was preparing to stage her first solo concert later this year.
Videos circulating on social media showed a snake handler removing a snake from her apartment as onlookers screamed: “It is a cobra!” Friends later revealed that a second snake was also found in her home.
Sam Ezugwu, a close friend and co-founder of the Amemuso Choir where Nwangene sang, described her as a “rising star” whose death has left the music community in shock. Another choir member, Hillary Obinna, said she was asleep when the bite occurred.
Following the bite, Nwangene first sought help at a nearby clinic that lacked the necessary antivenom, prompting her transfer to a hospital. Ezugwu said the hospital had one type of antivenom but not the other, and despite efforts to stabilize her—including hand gestures to communicate as she struggled to breathe—she passed away before a full course of treatment could be administered.
The Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, released a statement denying that antivenom was unavailable and said its staff provided immediate treatment, including resuscitation, intravenous fluids, oxygen therapy, and administration of polyvalent snake antivenom. The hospital added that Nwangene’s condition deteriorated rapidly due to severe complications from the bite, leaving medics unable to revive her.
Obinna described Nwangene as “a very wonderful girl—humble, intelligent, and incredibly talented,” adding that her death has left friends and family devastated.
Her death has reignited a national conversation on healthcare quality and patient safety in Nigeria, following similar cases, including the recent death of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s 21-month-old son. The country’s health minister has acknowledged systemic challenges and announced the creation of a national task force on clinical governance and patient safety.
While snakebites are more common in rural Nigeria, Nwangene’s death in an upmarket area of Abuja has shocked many. The World Health Organization (WHO) notes that venomous snakebites are a neglected public health issue in tropical and subtropical regions. Africa records between 435,000 and 580,000 snakebites annually, causing approximately 30,000 deaths in sub-Saharan Africa each year, though experts believe the real figures are higher.
Shortages of antivenom, high treatment costs, and limited refrigeration contribute to underreporting and delayed care, with many victims turning to traditional healers instead.
Nwangene’s passing serves as a tragic reminder of both her extraordinary talent and the ongoing public health challenges facing Nigeria.
