Media entrepreneur and host of the viral talkshow #WithChude, Chude Jideonwo has been invited as a guest speaker at An Evening of Unprecedented Medley, a special night of music, film and tributes celebrating the life and legacy of Onyeka Onwenu, the beloved Nigerian icon fondly remembered as the “Elegant Stallion,” courtesy of Properties of the Gods on the 3rd of September, 2026. For Chude, the invitation carries a significance that goes beyond the stage. Onyeka was not simply one of the great voices of a generation; she was a woman he deeply admired, loved and, in his own words over the years, considered one of Nigeria’s most extraordinary human beings. His affection for her has been evident in the many tributes he has written and shared since her passing, as well as in his continued insistence that her story, her work and her remarkable humanity must never be forgotten.
Onyeka Onwenu died on July 30, 2024, at the age of 72, leaving behind a legacy that is almost impossible to fit into a single description. She was a singer, journalist, broadcaster, actress, activist and public servant, but even those words do not quite capture the breadth of her influence. She had a rare ability to occupy many worlds and still remain entirely herself. Through her music, she gave Nigerians songs that became part of the emotional fabric of their lives. Through journalism and public life, she used her voice to question, challenge and advocate. Through her career, she showed generations of women that elegance and strength were not opposites, and that one could be both deeply Nigerian and boldly universal. For Chude, who has continued to publicly remember her year after year, speaking about Onyeka is therefore not simply an exercise in nostalgia. It is an act of gratitude.
And that is why this evening matters. An Evening of Unprecedented Medley is more than a concert or a memorial; it is an opportunity to gather around a life that gave so much to Nigeria and to ensure that the memory of the woman behind the legend remains alive. As Chude takes the stage, audiences can expect something more intimate than a conventional tribute, a reflection shaped by genuine affection, memory and a deep understanding of what Onyeka represented. Because some people leave behind records, awards and photographs. Others leave behind a standard. Onyeka Onwenu left a standard for courage, grace, excellence and the power of a woman who refused to make herself smaller. And as her friends, admirers, musicians and a new generation come together to celebrate her, Chude Jideonwo will have the privilege of doing what he has done so beautifully since her passing: remembering the woman, celebrating the legend, and reminding us why Onyeka must never be forgotten.
