Entertainment
‘Gwo Gwo Gwo’ Singer Gentleman Mike Ejeagha Passes Away at 95.
The Nigerian highlife music scene mourns the loss of Chief Mike Ejeagha, who passed away on Friday evening at the age of 95. Confirmed by his eldest son, Emma, the legendary musician died at the 32 Garrison Hospital in Enugu after a prolonged illness.
Born on April 4, 1930, in Enugu State, Ejeagha, popularly known as “Gentleman Mike Ejeagha,” achieved prominence between the 1960s and 1980s. His distinctive style of Igbo folk music produced enduring hits such as Omekagu, Uwa Mgbede Ka Mma, and Ka Esi Le Onye Isi Oche (Gwogwogwongwo).
Ejeagha’s contribution to Igbo culture is immense, with over 300 recordings archived in the National Archives of Nigeria. A recent viral dance challenge in 2024, featuring his 1983 track “Ka Esi Le Onye Isi Oche,” introduced his work to a new generation.
His passing marks the end of an era, but Mike Ejeagha’s legacy remains firmly etched in Nigerian highlife music.