Beloved singer dies aged 26 after fatal snake bite as heartbroken friend pays tribute

Nigerian singer Ifunanya Nwangene has tragically died aged 26 after a fatal snake bite. Following the news of her death, there has been an outpour of tributes from her heartbroken fans and loved ones. The star who rose to fame after performing on the local version of The Voice was in the capital, Abuja, when she was bitten. Ifunanya featured on the TV singing competition in 2021 and was known for her versatility, blending jazz, opera, classical music and soul.

The star who gained a following of support on social media was set to perform her first solo concert this year. As the news of Ifunanya's death flooded social media, a video of a snake handler removing a snake from her apartment went viral. In the clip, people nearby can be heard screaming: "It is a cobra!" A close friend, Sam Ezugwu, the co-founder and music director of the Amemuso Choir, where she sang, led tributes for the "rising star".

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Hillary Obinna, another friend who sang alongside her, told the BBC he was told Ifunanya had been asleep when "the snake bite woke her up" and revealed that two snakes were later found in the house.

She first sought treatment at a nearby clinic, but they did not have any antivenom, so she went to a hospital.

Music director Sam said he rushed to the hospital on Saturday after learning that she had been taken there and said the hospital had only one of the required antivenoms, but not the other.

"While they were trying to stabilise her, she could not speak, but she could make hand gestures. She was struggling to breathe," he added.

Sam said he drove out to search for the missing antivenom but returned to find that she had died.

Ifunanya Nwangene featured on The Voice in 2021 (Image: YouTube)

He said the entire choir went to the hospital that evening, "hoping that a miracle would happen".

Hillary described Nwangene as "a very wonderful girl, she is humble, very intelligent and very talented. Everybody is shattered. We could not sleep at night."

Tributes continued to pour in for Ifunanya, as one devastated fan penned: "I'm just seeing something really devastating about her, never felt this pained about a stranger. Heaven truly gained with this one."

"Nigeria failed you, may your soul rest in peace," added another. As a pal took to Instagram and wrote: "Rest easy, my friend. Can’t even contain the pain from such loss. Rest easy Nanya!"