Ida Onyango played a starring role in the action thriller movie Tears of the Sun alongside movie virtuoso Bruce Willis.
That role had a knock-on effect because her on-screen career took off for the better.
She went on to land a recurring role in the TV soap opera Days of Our Lives.
However, it is her beauty and natural abilities in songwriting and composing that have her fans in awe.
So who is Ida Onyango?
Ida Onyango is a 39-year-old Kenyan-born American dynamic singer, songwriter, composer, dancer, and performer.
She is popularly known as the wife of Prophet Lovy Elias Longomba – a hip-hop artist and entrepreneur-turned-pastor and founder of Revelation Church of Jesus Christ, USA.
Ida has had recurring roles in numerous TV shows, including Curse of Devil’s Mountain (2011), South Park (2013), and Dysfunctionally Organized (2014).
She is currently focused on her music.
Ida Onyango Profile Summary
- Full name: Ida Onyango
- Nickname: Nee
- Stage name: Ida Onyango
- Gender: Female
- Year of birth: 1984
- Age: 39 years old (as of 2023)
- Place of birth: Nairobi, Kenya
- Nationality: Kenyan, American
- Current Residence: Los Angeles, California
- Ethnicity: Black
- Sexuality: Straight
- Hair color: Black
- Eye color: Black
- Marital status: Divorced
- Partner: Prophet Lovy Elias Longomba
- Children: 1 (Andrew)
- Mother: Elizabeth Onyango
- Father: Benjamin Onyango
- Hometown: Hollywood, Southern California
- Profession: Singer, Songwriter, Actress, Dancer
Early Life
The dazzling actress (aged 39 years as of 2023) was born in 1984 in the Nairobi suburbs of Kenya.
Ida started singing at the age of 3 and built an impressive resume singing and performing in school plays, concerts, festivals, jingles, and movie skits, and also featured in a host of Performing Arts Conservatory public showcases.
In 1992, Ida’s parents founded The Upendo Singers – an African-inspired dance troupe that performed in Northern California elementary schools, colleges, festivals, and churches.
At the age of 8, she appeared on stage alongside her parents to perform traditional dance and music. Ida soon developed a passion for performing on stage.
Ida’s father (a successful actor himself) realized that her natural skill in composing blended well with her creative abilities in music.
So, soon after her father graduated college in 1995, he hooked her up on a three-year Artiste Development deal, and that is when her career as a solo performer blossomed.
However, details about the school or college she may have attended are unknown.
Family Life
Ida Onyango was born in Nairobi to Kenyan parents, Elizabeth and Benjamin Onyango.
At the age of 3 years Ida, alongside her mother, followed her father to Turlock City, Northern California, USA, where he had moved to study Computer Science.
She studied and grew up in California, but toured Kenya for the first time in 2005 when she was 18 years old.
However, she, like her parents, has dual nationalities and resides in the United States.
Career
Ida’s impressive solo performances may have been clear to see way before she turned 10, during which time she competed in many Hollywood Talent contests.
Her pro career began at the age of 14 when she signed a Management deal with Hines and Hunt Management to do theater, films, and commercials. She soon landed a role and starred as Georgia Delgado in the TV soap opera Days of Our Lives (2001).
In 2002, Ida starred as Lasana – a rape victim – in the action thriller film Tears of the Sun, a film starring Bruce Willis and Monica Bellucci.
Two years later, she took a hiatus from acting to record her first-ever music album Tired.
In 2005, Ida toured Kenya (her motherland), where she recorded three snappy singles with some of the country’s top producers.
One of her hit singles, Don’t Stop, aired severally on Kenya’s NTV and KTN, as well as America’s premier TV stations MTV Base and BET.
The song won her the prestigious Kisima Award in Kenya for the Boomba Female category and also fetched her a nomination at the South African Channel O Awards.
She soon returned to the US, recorded two other albums (Party and Nairobi), and embarked on a 22-city countrywide tour to promote those albums.
Husband and Children
Ida Onyango is currently divorced but was formerly married to Prophet Lovy Elias – 38-year-old Hip-hop artist and entrepreneur turned prophet.
Lovy Elias, who is now married to new flame Maggy Soas, filed for a dissolution of marriage with a minor kid in a Los Angeles court on June 16, 2017.
The circumstances surrounding her divorce are still unclear, but all that is known is their marriage broke down, and that subsequently led to their separation.
Regarding children, Ida has a boy named Andrew, whom she had with her ex-husband Lovy Elias before their marriage ended.
Ida Onyango’s Net Worth
When it comes to celebrity secrets, Ida Onyango is probably the gold standard.
The popular actress manages to keep her personal life under wraps and, as a result, not much is known about her lavish lifestyle or net worth.
However, her glittering music and Hollywood careers have earned her a considerable amount of wealth.
She made quite a lot through her commercials, films, and TV shows, as well as live performances at events and concerts. However, her real net worth estimates aren’t known.
Ida Onyango Controversy and Criticism
Ida Onyango is a phenomenon that has taken fans in her stratosphere by storm.
In 2008, she went on countrywide USA tours along with visiting Kenyan-based artists such as Wahu, Nameless, and Gidigidi Majimaji, and most have credited her for curtain-raising Kenyan talent locally and abroad.
Her unrelenting pursuit of great performances has earned her a decent following in California.
She even toured Kenya in 2005 and recorded three songs.
However, her on-stage successes haven’t stopped some from throwing criticisms her way.
Normally, one would expect that since she studied and grew up in California from the age of 3, she should speak with an American accent.
That’s not the case, however, because her accent has received unfair criticism from certain quarters.
Ida Onyango’s Fast Facts
- What was Ida Onyango’s first music Album? Ida Onyango has had numerous music albums over the years, but her debut album, Tired, first came out in 2001.
- What movies and TV shows are Ida Onyango renowned for? Ida Onyango is known for starring roles in Tears of the Sun (2003), Days of Our Lives (2001), and Dysfunctionally Organized (2014)
- Who is Ida Onyango dating? The actress was formerly married to Lovy Elias Longomba, but the two divorced on June 16, 2017. As for who she is dating currently, not much is known.
- How old is Ida Onyango? Ida was born in 1984 and is, therefore, 39 years old (as of 2023)
- Does Ida Onyango have children? Ida has one kid – a boy named Andrew – who she had together with her husband Lovy Elias before they divorced.
- What is Ida Onyango’s net worth? Ida is thought to own considerable wealth from her glittering film and music career, but her estimated net worth is unknown.
Conclusion
Ida Onyango has had a quite impressive career timeline and lifestyle.
The Kenyan-born American actress and performer has also created a huge following both locally and globally, making her one of the top screen performers to watch out for.
However, as they always say, every successful career path has its challenges, and Ida’s case is no exceptional.
Although she has had a glittering acting and singing journey, she also has her share of bad experiences, including the collapse of her marriage.
