“The Voice” alum Ifunanya Nwangene dies at 26 after getting bitten by a snake
“The Voice” alum Ifunanya Nwangene dies at 26 after getting bitten by a snake
Shania RussellMon, February 2, 2026 at 1:25 AM UTC
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Singer Ifunanya Nwangene performa on 'The Voice Nigeria'
The Voice Nigeria/YouTube
Ifunanya Nwangene, the rising star Nigerian singer who gained acclaim after appearing on The Voice Nigeria, has died. She was 26.
Sam Ezugwu, a friend of Nwangene's and the music director of the Amemuso Choir where she sang, announced her "sudden" death in an emotional Sunday Facebook post
"Amemuso Choir [regrets] to announce the sudden demise of our beloved soprano," the post began. "A rising star, Ifunanya was on the cusp of sharing her incredible talent with the world. Her voice and spirit will be deeply missed."
BBC Africa reports that Nwangene died after suffering a snake bite at her home in the nation's capital, Abuja. The outlet spoke with several of her fellow choir members, including Hillary Obinna, who shared that Nwangene was asleep when "the snake bite woke her up." He added that two snakes were later discovered in her home.
Ifunanya Nwangene on 'The Voice Nigeria'
The Voice Nigeria
Obinna said that after getting bitten Nwangene sought treatment at a nearby clinic. Upon learning that they did not have anti-venom, she was transported to a hospital where she died.
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Nwangene amassed a following after turning two chairs during her blind audition on the third season of The Voice Nigeria. Her performance of Rhianna's "Take a Bow" has achieved more than 80,000 views on YouTube. Nwangene was further celebrated for her performance across the season, which saw her blend genres including jazz, opera, classical music and soul.
Per BBC, Nwangene was planning her first solo concert for 2026 prior to her death.
In her final Instagram post, Nwangene teased a "new project" with Nigerian musician Tbrass. The musician has since paid tribute to his late collaborator, writing, "An irreplaceable loss to the Abuja music society and Nigeria at large. My hand and heart feels very heavy writing this, because it is unimaginable [losing] such a young promising great, talented music artist who touched so many lives, it is very heartbreaking — especially in Nigeria where music runs deep in our souls and connects us all.”
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He continued, "The pain of saying goodbye to someone whose voice and energy brought joy, inspiration, and even healing to many is heavy. From her unique voice, to the stories she told through songs, and the way she represented our culture and struggles, Nanya was a true artist who left an irreplaceable mark.”
on Entertainment Weekly
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
