Ifunanya Nwangene, a 26-year-old Nigerian singer and former contestant on "The Voice Nigeria," has died after being bitten by a snake in her home in Abuja. The tragic incident occurred on Saturday, January 31, 2026.
Nwangene's death was confirmed on Sunday, February 1, by Sam C. Ezugwu, the music director of the Amemuso Choir, where she sang as a soprano. In a Facebook post, the choir expressed their sorrow, stating, "Amemuso Choir regrets to announce the sudden demise of our beloved soprano, Ifunanya Nwangene... A rising star, Ifunanya was on the cusp of sharing her incredible talent with the world. Her voice and spirit will be deeply missed".
According to BBC Africa, Nwangene was asleep when the snake bit her, waking her up in the middle of the night. A fellow choir member, Hillary Obinna, told the outlet that two snakes were later found inside her home. Footage circulating on social media reportedly shows a snake handler removing one of the reptiles from the residence.
Reports indicate that Nwangene initially sought treatment at a nearby clinic, but the facility did not have antivenom. She was then transferred to the Federal Medical Centre in Abuja.
The Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Jabi has addressed and clarified misconceptions surrounding the death of Ifunanya Nwangene. The management explained the circumstances of the case and provided details to correct misinformation circulating in the public space. The hospital stated that the staff acted promptly and with the utmost care upon Nwangene's arrival, providing immediate and appropriate treatment including resuscitation efforts, intravenous fluids, intraasal oxygen, and the administration of polyillin snake antivenenom. The hospital said that after a thorough but quick evaluation, it was clear that Nwangene suffered severe neurotoxic complications from the snake bite and that despite all efforts to stabilize her condition and transfer her to the intensive care unit for further treatment, she experienced a sudden deterioration just before the transfer. The hospital dismissed claims of nonavailability of anti-snake venom.
Ifunanya Nwangene gained national recognition in 2021 during season three of "The Voice Nigeria," where she turned two judges' chairs with her rendition of Rihanna's "Take a Bow". The audition video has since garnered over 80,000 views on YouTube. She was known for her ability to blend genres such as jazz, opera, classical music, and soul.
Beyond her singing career, Nwangene was also an architect. At the time of her death, she was planning her first solo concert for 2026. Her final social media post teased an upcoming collaboration with Nigerian artist Tbrass. Tbrass shared a tribute to Nwangene, calling her "an irreplaceable loss to the Abuja music society and Nigeria at large".
Nwangene's death has sent shockwaves through Nigeria's music community, with many expressing their condolences and paying tribute to her talent and spirit.