Renowned Nigerian folklorist, songwriter, and musician Mike Ejeagha, affectionately known as “Gentleman Mike Ejeagha,” has passed away at the age of 95, leaving behind a monumental legacy in the preservation and evolution of Igbo traditional music.
Born on April 4, 1930, in Imezi Owa, Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State, Ejeagha’s musical journey began in the heart of Enugu’s Coal Camp, where he grew up under the guidance of a civil servant father. His early forays into music started with the ogene before transitioning to the guitar under the mentorship of local musicians Moses “Moscow” Aduba and Cyprian Uzochiawa.
In the 1950s, Ejeagha began to shape Nigeria’s highlife and folk music landscape. He joined the Coal Camp Boys and later founded his own band, Mike Ejeagha and the Merrymakers. His talent caught the attention of Atu Ona of the Nigerian Broadcasting Service, leading to his own radio show, Guitar Playtime. His broadcasting presence grew, and so did his influence, with the creation of Premier Dance Band and collaborations with the Paradise Rhythm Orchestra.
His breakthrough came with the 1960 hit Ofu Nwa Anaaa, released the same year Nigeria gained independence. The song, rich in Igbo folklore, marked a turning point in the development of indigenous language music and established Ejeagha as a household name. During the Nigerian Civil War, though his band disbanded, he continued to perform on Radio Nigeria, producing the beloved program Igbo Play and performing for troops on the front lines.
After the war, Ejeagha formed Gentleman Mike Ejeagha and His Trio in 1974, continuing to record and perform with a focus on storytelling, proverbs, and cultural preservation. His prolific career produced over 350 songs and earned him a place as one of Nigeria’s most respected folklorists.
Despite personal loss — including the death of his first wife in 1963, whom he commemorated in music — he remained steadfast in his commitment to his craft. He recorded under major labels such as Premier Music Ltd and Polygram and raised ten children during his lifetime.
Mike Ejeagha died on June 6, 2025, but his voice, philosophy, and musical wisdom endure. His life’s work remains a vital cultural archive, celebrating the Igbo identity and connecting generations through the oral traditions of music and storytelling.
