Ejeagha
Mike Ejeagha, the legendary highlife musician, passed away on Friday night after a 16-year battle with prostate cancer.
His eldest son, Emma Ejeagha, made the revelation in a telephone conversation with Sunday Vanguard on Saturday.
Ejeagha died at the Military Hospital, Enugu, at the age of 95.
According to Emma, his father was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2006 and had been hospitalized several times since then.
Mike Ejeagha’s health condition worsened two weeks ago, leading to his hospitalisation. Although he was stabilised and discharged, he was rushed back to the hospital last Tuesday. Unfortunately, he did not survive.
Emma was with his father during his final moments and described him as a peace-loving man and a genius.
“Papa died at exactly 8 pm on Friday, and his corpse has been deposited in the morgue. I was with him during his final moments. I will meet with my family in the morning to break the news to them, “ Emma said.
Before his death, Ejeagha had specifically instructed his son not to embalm his body or keep it in the morgue for too long.
Also, the CEO of the late musician’s forme record label, Premier Records Limited, Mike Odiong, confirmed the death of the music icon.. He described him as one of our icons and a very professional artist who dedicated his life to music and mankind.
“His songs were not just songs, but body of works that had strong messages to educate and encourage mankind. We will miss him. Even as he is no more with us, his works will continue to live and go beyond bounds.
“The family, friends, and fans of Mike Ejeagha will remember him not only for his rich baritone and infectious rhythms but for the depth, dignity, and devotion he brought to preserving Igbo culture through song,” he said.
As a renowned folklorist, songwriter, and musician, Mike Ejeagha was a dominant voice in Nigerian music, particularly in the 1980s, with his unique style of Igbo folk music that resonated across generations.
Last year, the Enugu state-born late musician was the toast of many music lovers across the world after his classic song “GwoGwo Ngwo’ released in 1983, triggered a viral dance challenge by a skit maker, Chukwuebuka Emmanuel Amuzie, popularly known as Brain Jotter, who incorporated the song into one of his skits.
The dance challenge not only rekindled passion for the folk song but also revived the career of the nonagenarian highlife maestro, with many visiting the deceased at his Enugu residence to pay homage to him. While the moment lasted, Mike Ejeagha’s popularity, which he couldn’t enjoy while he was active on stage, soared. He started receiving substantial royalties that had eluded him over the years, and a road in Enugu was renamed after him as a way of immortalizing his name. Vanguard
