Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, has paid a heartfelt tribute to legendary highlife musician and folklorist, Chief Mike Ejeagha, who passed away on Friday at the age of 95, following a protracted battle with prostate cancer.
In a statement released on Saturday, Governor Mbah described Ejeagha as “a cultural giant whose music transcended borders and generations,” and vowed that the state would immortalize his enduring legacy.
“Mike Ejeagha was not just a musical icon, he was a sage, a custodian of Igbo oral tradition, and a humble giant whose songs carried wisdom, wit, and warmth,” Mbah wrote on his verified social media platform.
“His death is not just a loss to his family and Enugu State, but to Nigeria and Africa at large. His ability to turn simple folktales into timeless highlife anthems made him one of the most beloved storytellers of our time.”
Governor Mbah recalled how his administration honoured the late icon during his lifetime by reconstructing Obinagu Road and renaming it Chief Mike Ejeagha Road, fulfilling a long-standing wish of the music legend that had been ignored by past administrations.
“I’m grateful we could honour him while he was still with us,” Mbah noted. “But beyond infrastructure, we will ensure his memory is etched into our cultural institutions and educational narratives. The Mike Ejeagha story must be told for generations to come.”
Ejeagha’s death was confirmed by his eldest son, Emma Ejeagha, who revealed that the folk maestro died at the 32 Garrison Hospital in Enugu after complications related to prostate cancer—a condition he had battled since 2006. According to Emma, Ejeagha’s health deteriorated sharply in recent weeks, culminating in his final admission earlier last week.
“He passed away peacefully at 8 p.m. on Friday,” Emma said, adding that the family would honour his father’s wishes not to embalm him or prolong his stay in the morgue.
Ejeagha rose to fame in the 1970s and 1980s with his unique blend of Igbo highlife and folklore, delivering moral lessons through proverbs, humour, and melody. His song, Ka Esi Le Onye Isi Oche, saw a resurgence in 2024 after being featured in a viral dance skit by comedian Brain Jotter, sparking a global trend and bringing the legend back into the limelight.
In the twilight of his life, this renewed recognition led to long-overdue royalty payments and a stream of admirers who visited him to pay their respects.
Governor Mbah concluded his tribute by assuring the family of the state’s full support.
“We grieve with the Ejeagha family and the wider cultural community. But we also celebrate a life that brought joy, meaning, and heritage to millions. May his soul rest in perfect peace.”
Chief Mike Ejeagha’s influence on Igbo music and oral tradition spanned over six decades. He is widely regarded as a founding figure of modern highlife, and his works remain a vital archive of Igbo philosophy and language.
