The air in the room shifted when Rita Edochie and Joke Silva caught sight of each other. The two Nollywood veterans crossed the floor and embraced in a long, warm hug, Silva visibly excited as she spoke to Edochie. Fans who watched the reunion unfold expressed admiration for the bond between the actresses. The moment came during a gathering held to honour Onyeka Onwenu, the singer and actress who died two years ago.
The tribute event brought together actors, filmmakers and colleagues who worked with Onwenu across her decades in the public eye. Onwenu, known as the Elegant Stallion, built a career that spanned music, acting, journalism, broadcasting and public service. Her catalogue includes classics such as One Love and You and I, songs that made her one of Nigeria's most recognisable cultural figures. On screen, she appeared in films including Half of a Yellow Sun and Lionheart, and her final movie appearance came in Properties of the Gods.
Silva used the occasion to recall a specific memory from her time with Onwenu. The two actresses were both nominated at the Africa Movie Academy Awards in Bayelsa, and both won in their respective categories, Silva for lead actress and Onwenu for lead supporting actress. Silva remembered Onwenu as a disciplinarian who demanded respect from those around her. She described the late entertainer in those terms when paying tribute at the event, offering a glimpse of the standard Onwenu held people to.
Joseph Okechukwu, the producer of Properties of the Gods, also spoke about his experience working with Onwenu and the other actors on that film. The movie carries weight because it features one of Onwenu's final screen appearances, a fact that made the production a meaningful part of her last chapter in the industry.
The celebration did not stop at speeches. Performers ran through some of Onwenu's beloved songs as guests marked her music and legacy. The atmosphere mixed remembrance with appreciation, the kind of gathering where the person being honoured feels present through the work she left behind.
The shared moment between Edochie and Silva became one of the most talked-about parts of the evening. Their affectionate reunion drew attention from fans who praised the veteran actresses and their lasting connection. The two women have moved through the same industry for years, and their warmth toward each other read as genuine, the kind of friendship that survives the passage of time and the pressures of the business.
For those who worked with Onwenu, the event offered a chance to reflect on her impact. Silva's memory of the AMAA experience in Bayelsa painted a picture of an artist who took her craft seriously and expected the same from everyone around her. The word disciplinarian carries weight in an industry where standards can slip, and Silva's description suggested Onwenu held herself to the same high bar she set for others.
Okechukwu's account of working with her on Properties of the Gods added another layer. Producing a film with an actress of Onwenu's stature comes with its own pressures, and his recollections underscored the professionalism she brought to the set.
The tribute event served as a reminder of how much ground Onwenu covered in her lifetime. She moved from music to acting to broadcasting to public service without losing her footing in any of them. That kind of range is rare, and it explains why the room was full of people who wanted to honour her memory two years after her death.
The performances of her songs brought the evening to life in a way speeches could not. Hearing One Love and You and I sung in a room full of people who knew her personally connected the music to the woman who made it.
The hug between Edochie and Silva spoke to something simpler. Two veterans of the industry, still working, still present, sharing a moment of connection at a gathering for a colleague they lost. The fans who noticed it responded with affection, seeing in that embrace the ties that bind the Nollywood community together.
According to Pulse.ng.
