‘Gwo gwo gwo ngwo’ Legend Mike Ejeagha Joins His Ancestors

The soft, wise voice that carried the heart of Igbo folklore has gone silent. Highlife maestro, Gentleman Mike Ejeagha, has passed on at the age of 95, leaving behind a legacy that will continue to echo through generations.

His son, Emma Ejeagha, confirmed that the beloved musician breathed his last on Friday evening at the 32 Garrison Hospital in Enugu, after battling a long illness.

Born on April 4, 1930, in Imezi Owa, Enugu State, Mike Ejeagha’s name became synonymous with storytelling through music. 

Over a career spanning more than six decades, he transformed the landscape of highlife music, weaving Igbo proverbs and traditional wisdom into melodies that resonated with young and old alike.

Songs like Omekagu, Uwa Mgbede Ka Mma, and the unforgettable Ka Esi Le Onye Isi Oche known popularly by its catchy refrain ‘Gwo gwo gwo ngwo’ cemented his place as a cultural icon from the 1960s through the 1980s.

But his influence extended beyond music charts. With more than 300 recordings preserved in the National Archives of Nigeria, Ejeagha played a vital role in safeguarding Igbo heritage for future generations.

In 1972, his voice reached an even wider audience when he became a guest presenter on the Nigerian Television Authority’s Igbo programme, Akuko N Egwu. It was another platform through which he reminded his people of their roots and values.

In recent years, Ejeagha’s timeless music found new fans when the track ‘Gwo gwo gwo ngwo’ resurfaced on social media, thanks to a viral challenge sparked by popular content creator Brain Jotter. The song’s sudden resurgence proved that great art knows no age.

Recognising his immense contribution to culture, the Enugu State government honoured Ejeagha last year. Governor Peter Mbah not only renamed the famous Obinagu Road after him now known as Mike Ejeagha Road but also pledged to care for the aging legend. 

The gesture came with the heartfelt message that Enugu would always celebrate its legends, not just in sports, but in music and the arts as well.

During the commissioning ceremony, Governor Mbah paid glowing tribute to Ejeagha, describing him as a man who had brought the spirit of Enugu and the richness of Igbo tradition to life through his songs.

Mike Ejeagha is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren. Gentleman Mike Ejeagha’s music will forever speak to the soul of the Igbo people, and indeed, to anyone who values the beauty of storytelling through song.