Who was Ifunanya Nwangene? All about 'The Voice' contestant as she dies at 26 after snake bite

Ifunanya Nwangene, a Season 3 contestant on The Voice Nigeria, has died after being bitten by a snake at her home.

On Sunday, Feb. 1, the late contender's music choir, AMEMUSO, confirmed her passing through a Facebook post, announcing:

"With painful heart, we announce the demise of Ifunanya Nwangene Nanyah."

The obituary poster also left a heartfelt message, honoring Ifunanya Nwangene, adding further information about her burial.

"A rising star, Ifunanya Nwangene was on the cusp of sharing her incredible talent with the world."

As of writing, the announcement has garnered over 7,100 comments and 400 shares on the social media platform, with people sending their condolences and prayers to her surviving loved ones.

"It's very sad to read and see how a Beautiful rising gift has passed away. But in this all we should remember death has no date I'm sure Ifunanya like many of us thought she still had time, it can be anyone any day anywhere, seek your redemption seek your salvation and seek righteousness. May The soul of the departured rest in peace," one wrote.

"It's like some of the elderly people who knew the herbs for snake bites are dying without passing down the knowledge. May her souls rest in perfect peace," another commented.

"Condolences. Is there a go fund me or fund raising page for the family and handled by family, that is the least some of us who have enjoyed her music can do at this time," a social media user shared.

Ifunanya Nwangene rose to fame when she participated in The Voice Nigeria Season 3, stunning the audience with her jazz-operatic rendition of Rihanna's hit, Take a Bow. She was eliminated in the Knockouts.

Following her reality talent show stint, she continued to showcase her skills by posting videos of her singing on social media, such as Facebook and YouTube, where she carried the profile name NANYAH. On Instagram, she went by as @/nanyah_music.

Her The Voice Nigeria video, where she made two chairs turn, had over 81,000 views at the time of her passing.

What we know so far about the death of The Voice Nigeria

contestant Ifunanya Nwangene

Meanwhile, a close friend of Ifunanya Nwangene told BBC Africa that he had rushed to the hospital where the 26-year-old "rising star" was brought, narrating her status as he arrived:

"While they were trying to stabilise her, she could not speak but she could make hand gestures. She was struggling to breathe."

According to the friend, the hospital was missing one of the required antivenoms, prompting him to seek it out elsewhere.

The late The Voice Nigeria participant's fellow choir members also helped out in finding the antivenom, while "hoping that a miracle would happen."

Sadly, as soon as the friend returned to the hospital, Ifunanya Nwangene had passed away.

In their defense, the hospital issued an official statement, calling the friend's remarks "unfounded and do not reflect the reality of the situation."

The hospital further said:

"Our medical staff provided immediate and appropriate treatment, including resuscitation efforts, intravenous fluids, intranasal oxygen, and the administration of polyvalent snake antivenom."

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They continued, disclosing that Nwangene suffered from severe complications due to the snake bite, as per the hospital's "thorough but quick" assessment, adding that her health deteriorated even before she was transported to the ICU.

"We stand by the quality of care and dedication our team demonstrates daily."

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