JUST IN: Veteran Highlife Musician Mike Ejeagha Is Dead at 95

Nigerian highlife music icon and folklorist, Mike Ejeagha, widely known as “Gentleman Mike Ejeagha,” has died at the age of 95. The legendary musician reportedly passed away on Friday evening in an Enugu hospital after a prolonged illness.

Ejeagha was a towering figure in Nigerian music, celebrated for his masterful integration of Igbo folklore, proverbs, and wisdom into melodic highlife compositions. His storytelling style, enriched by his signature guitar technique, captivated audiences and educated listeners, earning him a lasting place in Nigeria’s cultural heritage.

Born on April 4, 1930, in Imezi Owa, Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State, Ejeagha began his musical career in the mid-20th century. He rose to prominence in the 1960s and remained influential through the 1980s with classic tracks such as *Omekagu*, *Uwa Mgbede Ka Mma*, and *Ka Esi Le Onye Isi Oche*. Over the decades, he recorded more than 300 songs, many of which are preserved in the National Archives of Nigeria.

In 2024, Ejeagha’s music found new life among younger audiences when his 1983 song Ka Esi Le Onye Isi Oche inspired a viral dance challenge on social media, reintroducing his artistry to a new generation and reaffirming his status as a cultural icon.

Mike Ejeagha’s death marks the end of an era in Nigerian highlife, but his legacy will continue to resonate through his timeless music and invaluable contributions to the preservation of Igbo culture.