Stella Monye return: Veteran singer recounts her son’s long medical battle and her renewed drive to reclaim her place in music
Veteran Nigerian singer Stella Monye has spoken about her long absence from the music scene, explaining that she stepped back from performing to care for her son after a life-threatening accident.
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The celebrated artiste, known for 1980s hits including Oko mi ye and Arigo Samba, discussed her journey, setbacks and revival in an interview with Naomi Chima.
The Stella Monye return comes more than two decades after she emerged as one of Nigeria’s most recognisable female performers.
Monye said her journey into music began early.
Her first television appearance came at age 14 after she walked into a station and asked to sing.
Her 1983 debut album, Mr Right, brought her national attention, while Oko mi ye later became a breakout hit that secured her place in the industry.
She earned the moniker Samba Queen after Arigo Samba gained widespread acclaim.
Reflecting on her early career, she recalled touring Germany, Amsterdam, Switzerland and the Caribbean, where she performed at the abolition of the slave trade anniversary alongside global icons, including South African legend Mariam Makeba.
Newspapers of the time called her the “Bombshell from Nigeria”, a label she said captured the excitement of those years.
Her momentum slowed when her young son suffered a devastating fall from a water tank.
A series of botched surgeries across several countries followed, forcing Monye into repeated hospital stays and long spells away from work.
She said the experience reshaped her life.
Despite support from colleagues such as Omawumi, Daddy Showkey, Ras Kimono, Mono and Kwam 1, the financial pressure remained enormous, particularly as treatment overseas required a structured medical plan that would last years.
Now an adult, her son continues to manage serious kidney complications, and Monye said his resilience remains her greatest motivation.
His quiet pride, she added, fuels her determination to keep performing and earning.
Monye has returned to the studio with a new single, He Prepared Me, written in America and inspired by her personal struggles.
She said she initially hesitated to record it because she feared she would not have the time or strength to promote it while managing her son’s health.
The song has since gained traction, and she is planning performances during the festive season.
Discussing the challenges of navigating fame, Monye said criticism was once difficult but she has grown to accept it as part of the profession.
She now focuses on producing uplifting music rather than competing with younger artistes.
Her goal, she said, is to occupy a meaningful space by offering positive, inspirational sounds.
She described the global rise of Nigerian music as remarkable, noting that the current visibility of the industry is far beyond what artistes of her era experienced.
She advised younger performers to create more socially conscious music, arguing that songs should help correct societal issues rather than emphasise fleeting themes.
For those facing setbacks, she urged persistence.
As long as one’s voice remains, she said, there are no limits.
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Music evolves, and everyone must evolve with it.
