Ifunanya Nwangene, who was a contestant on The Voice Nigeria, passed away on Saturday.
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The singer was bitten by a cobra while sleeping, BBC Africa reports. Her close friend, Sam Ezugwu, shares that "the snake bite woke her up" that morning.
Nwangene sought assistance at a clinic nearby, but they did not have antivenom. She then rushed to the hospital, where she died later that day. Animal control services later found not one, but two snakes in Nwangene's apartment.
Ifunanya Nwangene, who went by the artist name Nanyah, was a contestant on The Voice Nigeria in 2021. During her time on the show, Nwangene did impressive covers of songs like "Take A Bow" by Rihanna. She was ultimately eliminated in the "Knockout" round of the competition.
Nwangene had a YouTube account under the name "NANYAH." On the account, she uploaded videos that displayed her impressive range and jazz-operatic style. The soprano singer was also a member of the Amemuso Choir. The group highlighted her as "a rising star" who was "on the cusp of sharing her incredible talent with the world" in a statement.
At the time of her passing, she had been preparing for her first concert as a solo artist in 2026.
Hospital Denies Allegations of Inadequate Care
Nwangene was transferred to the Federal Medical Center in Abuja, which provided her with immediate treatment, according to a statement made by the hospital. However, some sources claim that the hospital did not have the required antivenom to provide her with the necessary treatment.
Ezugwu told BBC Africa that the hospital had one of the required antivenoms but not the other.
The hospital denies these claims. "Despite all efforts to stabilise her condition and transfer her to the ICU for further treatment, she experienced a sudden deterioration just before the transfer," they wrote.
The hospital shares that "resuscitation efforts, intravenous fluids, intranasal oxygen, and the administration of polyvalent snake antivenom" were among the procedures used to remove the venom from Nwangene.
Their statement further denies allegations that claim the hospital was unable to provide Nwangene with enough antivenom. "The claims of non-availability of anti-snake venom and inadequate response are unfounded and do not reflect the reality of the situation," it reads.
