Khaberni - Nigeria witnessed a great sadness after the death of the rising singer Ivonania Nwanjeni, 26, on Saturday, due to a snake bite in the capital, Abuja.
Nwanjeni emerged after appearing on the "The Voice" Nigeria in 2021, the local version of the global TV competition.
She was known for her diverse musical styles, blending jazz, opera, classical music, and soul.
Social media videos showed a snake handler removing a snake from her apartment, while nearby people can be heard shouting: "It's a cobra!"
A close friend of hers, Sam Izugo, co-founder and musical director of the Amimosu choir she sang in, said Nwanjeni was a "rising star."
He added that she was planning to host her first solo concert later this year. Nwanjeni was also a trainee architect.
The incident occurred over the weekend, when Nwanjeni was asleep before she awoke affected by the snakebite, according to statements from her circle.
The atmosphere quickly shifted from panic to a race against time, as the singer initially went to a nearby clinic, but the available medical facilities were not sufficient to handle such a type of poisoning, prompting her subsequent transfer to a federal medical center.
Informed sources reported that Nwanjeni arrived at the hospital in a very critical condition, where the medical team made urgent efforts to stabilize her.
The singer had difficulty speaking but managed to communicate through hand signals, at a time when severe respiratory symptoms appeared due to the poison's effect. Reports from her circle of friends mentioned complications related to the availability of antivenoms, which caused a critical delay during the first hours of treatment.
The medical center later issued a statement clarifying that the necessary care was provided immediately upon arrival, including resuscitation procedures, intravenous fluids, and oxygen support, along with the administration of a polyvalent serum to combat snake venom.
The statement confirmed that the complications resulting from the bite were severe, and all resuscitation attempts failed to save the young woman's life, denying that the lack of treatment was a direct cause of death.
A state of shock hung over the community of The Voice program, especially among followers in Nigeria and beyond, following the announcement of the news.
Nwanjeni was known for her powerful voice and calm presence during her participation in the 2021 show, where she captured the attention of the jury in the initial performance stage, before leaving the competition in the elimination rounds, while her name continued to circulate among those interested in emerging talents.
Nwanjeni balanced singing with academic work, as she studied architecture in parallel with her musical activity.
She regularly participated in the "Amimosu" choir, which represented an important space for developing her vocal skills. Over the past months, she was preparing to launch her first solo singing concert, in a new phase of her artistic career.
Social media platforms saw a wide flow of condolence messages immediately after the announcement of the death, with her audience and colleagues expressing their grief for the loss of a young voice that was preparing to spread.
Many posts praised her calm demeanor and artistic commitment, considering her absence a painful loss to the local music scene.
Nwanjeni was famous for her strong "soprano" voice, and stood out during the auditions of The Voice Nigeria 2021 with her performance of Rihanna's famous song "Take a Bow," and was planning to hold her first solo singing concert later in the current year before the incident prevented that.
Hilary Obina, a fellow choir member, said the deceased was a girl with humility, intelligence, and talent, confirming that everyone felt broken by her absence, while the choir's Facebook page filled up with condolence messages indicating that her voice would remain present in memory.
World Health Organization data indicates that Africa records annually between 435,000 and 580,000 snakebite cases requiring medical intervention. In Nigeria, local reports indicate about 2,000 annual deaths due to these injuries, placing the country among the most affected by this phenomenon, amid continuous criticism regarding the readiness of the healthcare system and the availability of serums in various regions.
