Apart from being a multitalented artiste and later a politician, deceased stateswoman, Onyeka Onwenu, was also an activist.
The beautiful musician proved this in 2000 when she went on hunger strike to press home her demand for royalties from Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).
She had protested against the iconic media organisation which, interestingly, is her former employer.
She protested over its refusal to pay royalties on her songs (NTA 2 Channel 5 had used “Iyogogo“, a track from the Onyeka! album, in station idents without asking her permission). After then-director general Ben Murray-Bruce blacklisted her from transmission, she embarked on a hunger strike outside the station’s premises.
Onwenu’s activism attracted widespread support from various artists, including Charly Boy, who lambasted Nigeria’s reluctance to pay royalties when songs are broadcast on television and radio. NTA resolved to settle the issue amicably but denied barring Onwenu from appearing on their channels.
The protest was called off after six days when Onwenu and NTA came to an arrangement regarding royalties.
The action thus helped to deepen awareness on the need to take Nigerian artistes’ royalties seriously.
