Nigerian music legend Gentleman Mike Ejeagha, renowned for shaping Igbo highlife folklore, was buried just 24 hours after his death in line with his final wish. The 95-year-old icon passed away on Friday, June 6, 2025, after a long battle with prostate cancer, ending an era of storytelling through melody that spanned over six decades.
His burial took place swiftly on Saturday, June 7, in his hometown, Umuagba, Imezi-Owa, Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State. Family, community elders, and cultural custodians gathered in solemn unity as the late bard was laid to rest in his compound, echoing the tradition and humility he embodied throughout his life.
Emmanuel Ejeagha, the first son of the late maestro, confirmed that the family honored his father’s directive for immediate burial. “It was his wish not to be kept in the mortuary. He wanted a simple, swift goodbye. Even Governor Peter Mbah was informed, and everyone agreed to honour his last words,” he said during a media briefing with NAN.
Ejeagha, born August 1930, was not just a musician but a folklorist and linguistic preservationist. His compositions, often recorded in the 1960s and 1970s, were steeped in proverbs and parables that kept the Igbo language alive in music. Many of his tracks remain archived by the International Library of African Music for their cultural significance.
The Enugu-born artist was behind timeless classics like “Uwa Bu Afo,” “Akuko N’Egwu,” and “Omekagu,” and mentored multiple generations of highlife musicians. His unique ability to blend wisdom with rhythm earned him the title of “Storyteller Supreme” in Eastern Nigeria. Fans often called him Omenka, a master of the arts.
Though the burial was private, the family announced that public funeral ceremonies to celebrate his life and musical legacy will be scheduled soon. “This is just the beginning,” Emmanuel added. “We are planning events across Enugu, Lagos, and even diaspora communities to properly honor him.”
Tributes have flooded social media from musicians, scholars, fans, and cultural organizations. Many have called for a posthumous national award and formal recognition of Ejeagha’s role in preserving indigenous knowledge through music. Cultural activists are urging the federal government to immortalize him through a music institute or museum exhibit.
