The Silent Chord: When the Antidote is Absence
The Silent Chord: When the Antidote is Absence By Destiny Tamunoala Emmanuel In the quiet, early hours of a Saturday in Lugbe, Abuja, a melody that was just beginning to reach its crescendo was abruptly cut short. Ifunanya Nwangene, a name that resonated with the grace of opera and the grit of soul, was not taken by the common enemies of the city—not by the chaos of the streets or the violence of the shadows. She was taken by a visitor in her own sanctuary, a cobra that struck while she slept, and a system that failed her while she fought to stay awake. To look at Ifunanya was to see a woman of dual structures. A trained architect who understood the strength of foundations, and a singer who knew how to soar above them. Many of us first met her on the stage of The Voice Nigeria in 2021, where her rendition of Take a Bow didn’t just turn chairs; it captured hearts. She was the "Soprano Queen," a pillar of the Amemuso Choir, a rising star who had finally decided to quit her day...
