Renowned Nigerian highlife icon, Mike Ejeagha, popularly known as Gentleman Mike Ejeagha, has passed away at the age of 95 after a prolonged battle with prostate cancer. The music legend died on Friday night at 8 p.m. at the 32 Garrison Hospital in Enugu, marking the end of a towering era in Igbo folk music.
His death was confirmed by his eldest son, Emma Ejeagha, who spoke with journalists on Saturday morning.
“My father passed away due to a long-standing ailment,” Emma said. “He died at exactly 8 p.m. on Friday, and his body has been deposited in the morgue. I was with him during his final moments.”
Emma revealed that the highlife maestro was first diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2006. Over the years, he endured several hospitalizations. Though he was recently stabilized and discharged, his condition worsened again last Tuesday, leading to a final admission from which he did not recover.
“Papa was a peace-loving man and a genius,” Emma added, noting that his father had given strict instructions not to embalm his body or leave it in the morgue for an extended period.
Mike Ejeagha’s name is etched deep into the annals of Nigerian music history. A prolific songwriter, folklorist, and guitarist, he rose to fame in the 1980s with his signature blend of traditional Igbo storytelling and highlife rhythms, captivating audiences across generations.
His songs, often infused with moral lessons and proverbs, were celebrated not just for their melody but for their wisdom. Ejeagha’s discography includes timeless classics that shaped the identity of Igbo highlife, securing him a revered place in Nigeria’s cultural heritage.
In a twist of poetic justice, 2024 saw the revival of one of Ejeagha’s best-known tracks, “Ka Esi Le Onye Isi Oche”, originally released in 1983. The song found new life after being featured in a viral dance skit by comedian Chukwuebuka Emmanuel Amuzie, popularly known as Brain Jotter.
The viral sensation sparked a global dance challenge, catapulting the aging artist back into the limelight. Fans, young and old, flocked to his Enugu residence to show love and pay tribute. The renewed attention not only brought emotional joy but also tangible rewards, Ejeagha began receiving long-overdue royalties, and a road in Enugu was renamed in his honor.
Ejeagha’s contributions span over six decades, and his influence continues to shape contemporary interpretations of highlife and folk music in Nigeria. His music, rich with parables, wit, and cultural preservation, remains a source of pride for the Igbo people and Nigerians at large.
Emma Ejeagha has pledged to preserve his father’s rich musical legacy, ensuring that the melodies and messages of Gentleman Mike Ejeagha live on.
As the highlife community and the nation at large mourn the passing of a legend, tributes continue to pour in for the man whose songs taught, entertained, and united generations.
May his gentle soul rest in peace.
