Voice alum Ifunanya Nwangene, a former contestant on The Voice Nigeria, has died aged 26 after being bitten by a poisonous snake while she was sleeping at her home in Abuja, Nigeria.
The incident happened over the weekend, with her death confirmed on Sunday by members of her choir and reported by BBC Africa.
Her sudden passing has shocked fans, musicians and viewers who followed her journey on the popular TV singing competition.
What happened to Ifunanya Nwangene, and why does it matter?
Ifunanya Nwangene was a trained soprano vocalist and a practising architect, originally from Enugu State.
She rose to public attention in April 2021 after appearing on season three of The Voice Nigeria, where her performance of Rihanna’s Take a Bow gained widespread praise and later exceeded 85,000 views on YouTube.
According to BBC Africa, Nwangene was bitten by a snake while asleep in her bedroom. The bite reportedly woke her up, prompting an emergency search for medical help.
During her days at UNEC, Ifunanya Nwangene served as the choir mistress of St. Mulumba’s Catholic chaplaincy UNEC, leading other choir members with her angelic voice.
She passed away after being biten twice by a deadly cobra snake in her house.
May her soul RIP 🙏 pic.twitter.com/sqzaWfQ371
— Nero (@Ndubuisi_23) January 31, 2026
Her death has reignited debate around access to emergency care and anti-venom treatment in parts of Africa, an issue closely followed by UK-based global health organisations.
Where did she seek medical help after the snake bite?
Sources told BBC Africa that Nwangene first went to a local clinic near her home. The clinic reportedly did not have anti-venom available.
She was then taken to Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, a major government hospital in Abuja.
Sam Ezugwu, music director of the Amemuso Choir, told BBC Africa that the hospital did not have all the required anti-venom treatments at the time.
“While they were trying to stabilise her, she could not speak, but she could make hand gestures. She was struggling to breathe,” Ezugwu said.
However, the hospital later rejected claims of inadequate treatment. Hospital statement: “Our medical staff provided immediate and appropriate treatment, including resuscitation efforts, intravenous fluids, intranasal oxygen, and the administration of polyvalent snake antivenom.”
The hospital added that doctors carried out a “thorough but quick” assessment and found that Nwangene had developed severe complications that proved fatal.
What has her choir and community said about her death?
The Amemuso Choir, where Nwangene was an active member, confirmed her death in a Facebook post on Sunday. “With a painful heart, we announce the death of Ifunanya Nwangene Nanyah.”
The choir described her as being “on the cusp of sharing her incredible talent with the world,” adding that her “voice and spirit will be deeply missed”.
Choir member Hillary Obinna told BBC Africa that officials later recovered two snakes from Nwangene’s home. He described her as humble, intelligent and deeply gifted. “Everybody is shattered. We could not sleep at night.”
How did UK audiences know Ifunanya Nwangene?
Although she competed on a Nigerian edition of The Voice, Nwangene attracted international viewers, including in the UK, through YouTube and social media. Her covers included:
- Rihanna – Lift Me Up
- Celine Dion – My Heart Will Go On
- Miley Cyrus – Slide Away
On her YouTube channel, she regularly interacted with fans. Under the username @Nanyahmusic, she once wrote: “I appreciate all the comments. I’m encouraged, and I will keep improving.”
Her growing digital footprint mirrors how many young African artists reach UK audiences without major record deals.
Why is this story resonating beyond Nigeria?
Snake bites cause tens of thousands of deaths globally each year, according to UK-based public health charities.
The World Health Organisation has long warned that delayed access to anti-venom significantly increases the risk of death, particularly in low-resource settings.
For UK readers, the case highlights global health inequalities and why international funding, emergency medicine supply chains and rapid response systems remain critical issues.
