Ifunanya Nwangene Death Shocks Her Fans Worldwide

Ifunanya Nwangene death from a snake bite shocks fans. The talented singer was only 26 years old and a beloved member of the choir.

Aspiring singer Ifunanya Nwangene has died from a snake bite in the capital, Abuja, on Saturday.

Nwangene, 26, gained national attention after appearing on The Voice Nigeria in 2021. She was known for blending jazz, opera, classical music, and soul.

Videos circulating online show a snake handler removing a snake from her home as bystanders screamed: “It is a cobra!”

The Amemuso Choir confirmed her death via a social media post. The deceased was a member of the choir. They said Nwangene would be “deeply missed”.

“Amemuso Choir regrets to announce the sudden demise of our beloved soprano, Ifunanya Nwangene. She passed away yesterday, 31st January 2026, at Federal Medical Center. The cause was a snake bite,” the statement reads.

“A rising star, Ifunanya was at the cusp of sharing her incredible talent with the world. Her voice and spirit will be deeply missed.”

Sam Ezugwu is a close friend. He is also the co-founder and music director of the Amemuso Choir. He told the BBC that Nwangene was a “rising star.” She had been planning her first solo concert later this year. She was also a trained architect.

Another friend, Hillary Obinna, said she had been asleep. She mentioned that “the snake bite woke her up.” She added that two snakes were later found in the house.

Nwangene initially sought help at a nearby clinic, but was referred to a hospital due to a lack of antivenom. Ezugwu said the hospital had one of the required antivenom but not the other.

“While they were trying to stabilize her, she was not capable of speaking, but she made hand gestures. She was struggling to breathe,” he said.

Ezugwu said he left to search for the missing antivenom but returned to find she had died. The BBC has contacted the hospital for comment.

He added that the choir gathered at the hospital that evening, “hoping that a miracle would happen”.

Obinna described Nwangene as “a very wonderful girl, she is humble, very intelligent and very talented”, adding: “Everybody is shattered. We do not sleep at night.”