By Nneka Agu
ABUJA, Nigeria — Fast-rising Nigerian soprano Ifunanya Nwangene, popularly known as Nanyah Music, has died after a snakebite at her residence in Lugbe, a suburb of Nigeria’s capital, Abuja. She was 25.
The singer died Saturday, Jan. 31, according to multiple social media posts that began circulating early Sunday and were later echoed by members of Abuja’s choral and gospel music community.
According to reports shared online, Nwangene was bitten by a snake at her home and made frantic efforts to obtain medical care. She reportedly drove herself to two hospitals in Abuja, including the Federal Medical Centre, but was allegedly told that anti venom, the critical treatment for snakebites, was not available.
“There was no anti venom. She kept moving from hospital to hospital,” a social media user who identified as a close acquaintance wrote. “She tried everything she could to survive.”
There has been no official confirmation from her family, the police or health authorities as of the time of filing this report. Efforts to reach close associates for independent verification were unsuccessful.
Videos circulating online show a snake catcher holding a cobra said to have been found inside the singer’s room. Voices heard in the background suggest there may have been more snakes in the apartment. Friends said Nwangene had previously complained of seeing a large snake in her home.
“This was not the first time she raised alarm about snakes in that house,” one mourner wrote on Facebook. “She spoke about it weeks ago.”
Nanyah Music was gaining prominence for her powerful soprano voice, often described by fans as “pure” and “soaring.” She had built a growing following on TikTok and had performed at events attended by senior government officials.
“She was a nightingale,” another musician wrote. “Her voice stood out. She was going places.”
Her death triggered an outpouring of grief across social media, alongside speculation about spiritual or supernatural causes. No evidence has been presented to support such claims.
Beyond the mourning, many Nigerians pointed to systemic failures in emergency healthcare.
“This is a painful reminder,” a commenter wrote, “that in the Federal Capital Territory, people can still die because hospitals lack basic life saving drugs.”
As of Sunday, it remained unclear whether authorities had launched a formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.
Friends and fans remembered Nwangene as a vibrant and gifted young artiste whose career was just beginning, and whose sudden death has renewed scrutiny of Nigeria’s fragile emergency response system.
