"She Was a Rising Star..." Outpouring of Grief as Audition Show Singer Dies from Venomous Snakebite

Singer from Popular Audition Program Dies at 26
No Antivenom Available at Hospital After the Incident
Nigeria's Medical Infrastructure Issues Resurface

Singer Lee Poonanya Nwankene (26), who rose to fame on Season 3 of the popular Nigerian audition program "The Voice Nigeria," has died after being bitten by a venomous snake, prompting an outpouring of grief in the country.

According to recent reports from the BBC and others, Nwankene was bitten by a snake on January 31 while sleeping at her home in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria. Her colleague Hilary Obinna said, "I heard that she woke up after being bitten by a snake in her sleep," adding, "Two more snakes were later found inside the house." He remembered Nwankene as "a wonderful, humble, very intelligent, and talented person," and said, "Everyone was in shock and could not sleep at night."

Singer Lee Poonanya Nwankene. Instagram

Sam Ezeugwu, co-founder of the Amemuso Choir, where Nwankene had been a member, also said, "Nwankene was a rising star," adding, "She was planning to hold her first solo concert at the end of this year." Ezeugwu said, "When I heard that she had been taken to the hospital, I rushed over," noting, "The hospital had only one of the antidotes that were needed, and the other was not available." He went on to say, "While the medical staff were trying to stabilize her condition, she could not speak but was able to gesture, and she was having great difficulty breathing."

The sudden news of Nwankene's death has also drawn deep condolences from the Nigerian music industry. Music producer Tbrass, who had worked with her, said, "Her voice and energy brought healing and inspiration to many," adding, "This is an irreplaceable loss for the Nigerian music scene."

The incident has once again highlighted the problems with Nigeria's inadequate medical infrastructure. Right after the accident, Nwankene went to a nearby clinic but could not receive immediate treatment because there was no antivenom available. Her condition then deteriorated rapidly, and although she was transferred to a federal medical center, she ultimately died. As public anger mounted, Nigeria's minister of health acknowledged the structural problems in the healthcare system and announced the creation of a national task force for "clinical governance and patient safety."

Meanwhile, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), Africa records 435,000 to 580,000 cases of snakebite requiring treatment every year, with the impact concentrated on women, children, and farmers in rural areas where medical infrastructure is weak.