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LAGOS – A giant of Nigerian highlife music and folklore, “Gentleman” Mike Ejeagha, has passed away. The news that Mike Ejeagha dead at the age of 95 on Friday has sent ripples of sorrow across the nation, with President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and Labour Party’s Peter Obi leading a chorus of heartfelt tributes.
President Tinubu, through his Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga, lauded Ejeagha as “one of Nigeria’s greatest folklorists, songwriters, and musicians in the Igbo language.” Tinubu reflected on how Ejeagha’s music masterfully preserved and projected Igbo culture. He also acknowledged Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah’s thoughtful gesture of recognizing the musician’s immense contributions while he was still alive. The confirmation of Mike Ejeagha dead marks the end of a significant cultural era.
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The tributes pouring in underscore the depth of Ejeagha’s impact. Atiku Abubakar fondly recalled the recent social media explosion of Ejeagha’s timeless song, “Ka Esi Le Onye Isi Oche.” “Rest in music, Gentleman Mike Ejeagha,” Atiku shared. Peter Obi, in his message, celebrated Ejeagha’s remarkable six-decade career. “His transition marks the end of an era, but not the end of his voice – his songs will continue to echo,” Obi wrote, noting how Ejeagha’s proverb-rich lyrics served as a moral compass for generations. The news of Mike Ejeagha dead is a poignant moment for his countless fans, old and new.
Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah remembered Ejeagha as “a legend, a cultural ambassador, and a revered son of Enugu State.” In a fitting tribute during Ejeagha’s lifetime, Governor Mbah had overseen the reconstruction and renaming of the road leading to his Abakpa Nike residence as Chief Mike Ejeagha Road.
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The comedian Brain Jotter, instrumental in the song’s recent revival, also paid his respects. “Now, he rests — but his melody lives forever,” Brain Jotter posted on Instagram. Remarkably, earlier in 2024, Ejeagha’s 1983 hit “Ka Esi Le Onye Isi Oche” found a vibrant new life, becoming the infectious soundtrack to a viral dance challenge. The song, from his “Akuko Na Egwu Vol. 1” album, humorously recounts an Igbo folktale of a cunning tortoise outwitting an elephant.
Forty-one years after its release, comedian Chukwuebuka Amuzie, popularly known as Brain Jotter, featured the track in a skit. The dance that emerged, dubbed the “Gwo gwo gwo ngwo” challenge, playfully mimics the elephant’s booming footsteps as it chases the tortoise. It became an instant sensation on TikTok and Instagram, racking up over 28 million views in just a week and embraced by everyone from celebrities to the Super Falcons, Nigeria’s national women’s football team. Brain Jotter had even sought out the music icon to present him with a N2 million gift as a token of appreciation. The passing of Mike Ejeagha dead comes after this joyful re-discovery of his genius by a new generation.
Born in Owa, Enugu State, in the early 1930s, Mike Ejeagha was far more than a musician. His songs, characteristically accompanied by his acoustic guitar and woven with rich Igbo proverbs, were vehicles for lessons on morality, discipline, humor, and the everyday tapestry of life.
By Abdullah Korede
