‘Gwo gwo ngwo’ Legendary singer Mike Ejeagha died on Friday, June 6th, after a 16-year battle with prostate cancer.
His eldest son, Emma Ejeagha, made the revelation in a telephone conversation with Sunday Vanguard on Saturday.
The veteran singer died at the Military Hospital, Enugu, at the age of 95.
According to Emma, his father was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2006 and had been hospitalized several times since then.
Mike Ejeagha’s health condition worsened two weeks ago, leading to his hospitalization. Although he was stabilized and discharged, he was rushed back to the hospital last Tuesday. Unfortunately, he did not survive
“Papa died at exactly 8 pm on Friday, and his corpse has been deposited in the morgue. I was with him during his final moments. I will meet with my family in the morning to break the news to them,“ Emma said.
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Before his death, Ejeagha had specifically instructed his son not to embalm his body or keep it in the morgue for too long.
Also, the CEO of the late musician’s former record label, Premier Records Limited, Mike Odiong, confirmed the death of the music icon. He described him as one of our icons and a very professional artist who dedicated his life to music and mankind.
As a renowned folklorist, songwriter, and musician, Mike Ejeagha was a dominant voice in Nigerian music, particularly in the 1980s. He had a unique style of Igbo folk music that resonated across generations.
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Last year, the Enugu State-born late musician was the toast of many music lovers across the world after his classic song “GwoGwo Ngwo’ released in 1983, triggered a viral dance challenge by a skit maker, Chukwuebuka Emmanuel Amuzie, popularly known as Brain Jotter, who incorporated the song into one of his skits.
While the moment lasted, Mike Ejeagha’s popularity, which he couldn’t enjoy while he was active on stage, soared. He started receiving substantial royalties that had eluded him over the years, and a road in Enugu was renamed after him as a way of immortalising his name.
Meanwhile, reacting to the news, President Bola Tinubu extended heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and his fans.
Tinubu, in a statement by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, noted that Ejeagha used his music and distinctive storytelling style to preserve and project Igbo culture and customs, inspiring generations.
“May the spirit and values of Gentleman Mike Ejeagha’s music continue to remind us that music has the power to revive, heal and redirect energy towards worthy causes that help build our nation,” he said.
On his part, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State described the deceased as “an unassuming and easygoing personality, whose fanbase spread across international boundaries.”