Young Singer and Former Voice Contestant Passes Away After Snake Bite While Sleeping

Ifunanya Nwangene.
Credit :

Ifunanya Nwangene/Instagram

NEED TO KNOW

• Ifunanya Nwangene died after a snake bit her in her sleep on Jan. 31; she was 26
• Nwangene was an aspiring singer, who appeared on season 3 of The Voice Nigeria, and an architect
• “The pain of saying goodbye to someone whose voice and energy brought joy, inspiration, and even healing to many is heavy,” a collaborator wrote of the late musician

Ifunanya Nwangene, a talented singer known for her appearance in season 3 of The Voice Nigeria, passed away after being bitten by a snake. She was 26 years old, as reported by BBC Africa.

Sam C. Ezugwu, music director at Amemuso Choir, confirmed her unexpected death in a statement shared on Facebook on February 1. Nwangene died at a Nigerian hospital on January 31 due to a snake bite, according to Ezugwu’s announcement.

“Amemuso Choir regrets to announce the sudden demise of our beloved soprano,” the choir mentioned, highlighting Nwangene as a rising star ready to showcase her immense talent. Her voice and spirit, they noted, will be profoundly missed.

Born in Enugu, Nwangene was reportedly bitten in her sleep while living in Abuja. Fellow choir member Hillary Obinna shared insights into the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident, noting that two snakes were later found in her residence.

Ifunanya Nwangene.

Ifunanya Nwangene/Instagram

Obinna detailed that the incident occurred while Nwangene was asleep, and the snake bite roused her. Following the attack, she sought medical assistance at a nearby clinic, but due to a lack of antivenom, she was transferred to a hospital.

Ezugwu confirmed that Nwangene was treated at the Federal Medical Center. As of Sunday, the Nigeria Police Force had not responded to inquiries regarding the incident.

Nwangene initially gained public attention by turning two chairs on The Voice Nigeria with her rendition of Rihanna’s “Take a Bow,” which has garnered over 80,000 views on YouTube.

Ifunanya Nwangene on ‘The Voice Nigeria’.

The Voice Nigeria/YouTube

Nwangene often shared covers and original music on her YouTube channel. Her last Instagram post hinted at a new project in collaboration with another Nigerian artist, Tbrass. Following her death, it was revealed that she had recorded a feature for his upcoming album just three days before her passing.

Tbrass described Nwangene’s death as an irreplaceable loss to the Abuja music community and the country. “The pain of saying goodbye… is heavy. Nanya was a true artist who left an irreplaceable mark,” he shared in a tribute accompanied by a video of her performing.

At the time of her passing, Nwangene was planning her first solo concert for 2026. Ezugwu indicated that more details regarding her burial arrangements would be forthcoming on the official Amemuso Choir Facebook page.