Fast-rising Nigerian singer, Ifunanya Nwangene, has died after she was bitten by a snake at her residence in Abuja.
Nwangene, 26, passed away on Saturday at the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja, where she was rushed for treatment following the incident.
The late singer rose to national prominence after featuring on The Voice Nigeria in 2021 and was known for her unique fusion of jazz, opera, classical music and soul.
Videos that surfaced online showed a snake handler removing a snake from her home, as onlookers shouted that it was a cobra.
Confirming her death in a statement, the Amemuso Choir, of which she was a member, described her passing as a painful loss to the music community.
“Amemuso Choir regrets to announce the sudden demise of our beloved soprano, Ifunanya Nwangene, who passed away on January 31, 2026, at the Federal Medical Centre following a snake bite,” the statement read.
The choir described her as a gifted artiste who was on the verge of wider recognition, noting that her voice and spirit would be greatly missed.
A close friend and co-founder of the choir, Sam Ezugwu, told the BBC that Nwangene had been preparing for her first solo concert this year and was also a trained architect.
Another friend, Hillary Obinna, said the singer was asleep when the snake bit her, adding that two snakes were later discovered in the house.
It was gathered that Nwangene first visited a nearby clinic before being referred to a hospital due to the unavailability of antivenom, but efforts to save her proved unsuccessful.
Friends and colleagues described her death as devastating, saying the loss has left many in shock and mourning.
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