'The Voice Nigeria' Contestant Ifunanya Nwangene Dies at 26 After Snake Bite in Abuja Home

Nigeria is mourning the loss of rising music star Ifunanya Nwangene, who passed away at just 26 years old after a fatal snakebite. The tragedy has sparked conversation about the urgent need for better emergency healthcare and available antivenom in the country.

Ifunanya Nwangene, a promising 26-year-old singer who captivated audiences on "The Voice Nigeria," has tragically passed away after suffering a snakebite in her Abuja residence.

Her music choir, Amemuso, confirmed her death on Sunday, January 31, 2026, in a Facebook post on the choir's page.

Nwangene was reportedly asleep when a snake bit her in the middle of the night, waking her. According to her close friend and fellow choir member, Hillary Obinna, who spoke to BBC Africa, two snakes were later discovered in Nwangene's home.

Footage circulating on social media also showed a snake handler removing one of the snakes from the apartment, which witnesses identified as a cobra.

Nwangene's death has reignited debate about healthcare and patient safety in Nigeria. She initially sought treatment at a nearby clinic, but due to the lack of the necessary antivenom, she moved to the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, where only one type of antivenom was available, while another crucial one was not, according to Sam Ezugwu, the co-founder and music director of the Amemuso Choir.

Ezugwu, who was at the hospital with the entire choir, described Nwangene's deteriorating condition to BBC Africa. "While they were trying to stabilize her, she could not speak but she could make hand gestures. She was struggling to breathe," he recalled. But efforts to stabilize Nwangene were futile, resulting in her untimely death.

The Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, later issued a statement denying any inadequacy in their response, asserting that their medical staff provided immediate and appropriate treatment, including resuscitation efforts, intravenous fluids, oxygen, and polyvalent snake antivenom.

The hospital maintained that Nwangene suffered severe complications from the bite, and her condition rapidly worsened before a planned transfer to intensive care.

Nwangene, described as a "rising star," was known for her versatility, blending jazz, opera, classical music, and soul.

She first gained prominence in 2021 during her appearance on "The Voice Nigeria." The aspiring artist impressed the judges with her powerful rendition of Rihanna's "Take a Bow," prompting two judges to turn their chairs. Her audition video has garnered over close to 107k views on YouTube as of this writing.

At the time of her death, Nwangene was actively planning her first solo concert, which her growing fanbase had been looking forward to.

"Everybody is shattered," Obinna said, describing her friend as "a very wonderful girl, she is humble – very intelligent and very talented."

Nwagene's tragic passing has brought to light the challenges within Nigeria's healthcare system, especially concerning the treatment of snakebites. The World Health Organization (WHO) highlights venomous snakebites as a neglected public health issue in tropical and subtropical regions.

About 435,000 to 580,000 snakebites require treatment annually in Africa, leading to approximately 30,000 deaths, mostly due to the scarcity and high cost of antivemom and unreliable storage conditions in areas with unreliable electricity.

Nwangene's passing was especially concerning to Nigerians since it happened in an upscale part of Abuja, and snakebite incidents are often associated with rural areas.