Singer Onyeka Onwenu Condemns 'Lavish' Burial Of Obi Cubana's Mother

Veteran singer and actress Onyeka Onwenu has slammed the burial of Obi Cubana's mother, calling it 'lavish, obscene, and insensitive'.

Writing via a lengthy post on Premium Times, Onwenu stated that she does not condemn anyone on how they mourn with their hard-earned money but what made her uncomfortable was the lavish display of wealth on any occasion, especially in a time of hardship for others.

She said, "The point I make here is that there are different strokes for different folks, even within a family. I do not condemn anyone for how they mourn, with their hard-earned money but I am very uncomfortable with lavish display of wealth on any occasion, especially in a time of hardship and lack for most others.

Onyeka Onwenu 

"The burial of Obi Cubana’s mother was not only lavish, it was obscene and insensitive.  It sent all the wrong signals at a time when Nigeria is wracked with widespread poverty and lack.

"...  I will not call for them to be hanged on the stake as some have done. These reactions have been extreme and just as mindless as the conspicuous display of wealth we witnessed at the burial ceremony. 

"Obi Cubana and his friends did not invent the art of spraying, neither are they the first to show off stupendous wealth in a wild celebration of any kind.

Obi Cubana

"But in an age of invasive social media, our senses are instantly bombarded with images of sheer madness, where caution is thrown to the wind and we are regaled with images of sheer debauchery. We ask: Is this all necessary?

"I condemn it all. It does not reflect the Igbo culture that I grew up in. Ndigbo would not condone the conspicuous display of wealth.

"If you were found doing that, your close and extended family, your community would send a delegation to you, to ask about the source of the wealth you are throwing about.

"You would be ostracised if you have no convincing evidence of legitimate work...."