Mike Ejeagha was born on April 4, 1930, in Imezi Owa, in the Ezeagu LGA of Enugu State. He is often called the “Gwo Gwo Ngwo” crooner or Highlife folklore maestro. He has devoted over 60 years to using music to preserve Igbo culture as Highlife’s storyteller by turning proverbs, wisdom, and folktales into heartfelt tunes.
Early Journey & Musical Roots
Mike Ejeagha came from modest roots and grew up in Coal Camp, Enugu, where he fell deeply in love with music and storytelling.
When he was younger, he played ogene with his friends. In 1945, he joined the Coal Camp Boys, an Enugu-based local band. He continued pursuing his love of music after finishing elementary school in 1948.
In 1949, at the age of 20, he started working as an apprentice, learning hairdressing from his friend Cyprain Ozochiawa, a singer and barber. He also learned how to play the guitar.
Around the 1950s, he started his first band, the Mike Ejeagha and Merry-makers. He gained widespread recognition for his appearances on radio programs like “Guitar Playtime” and “Akuko n’egwu,” which is Igbo for “storytelling through music.”
Nigeria attained independence in 1960, which was a good time for him to debut with a sound strongly influenced by Igbo culture.
Ejeagha disbanded his band during the Biafran War, but he still performed Igbo plays on Radio Nigeria. Due to the war, he fled Enugu for Umuahia and remained there until it was over.
The songs “The unfortunate lady” (1957), “Colliery massacre” (1959), and “Ofu nwanne” (1959) were among the singles that Ejeagha and late Nigerian businessman, CT Onyekwelu, had released together before the conflict.
The Legacy: “Ka Esi Le Onye Isi Oche” & “Gwo Gwo Ngwo”
In 1983, Mike Ejeagha’s album Akuko Na Egwu Original Vol. 1 had his signature song, “Ka Esi Le Onye Isi Oche.” The song’s memorable chorus, “Gwo Gwo Ngwo,” was later associated with his name.
This song’s storytelling flair—it tells the story of a cunning tortoise that outwits an elephant and imparts cultural wisdom through melody—makes it memorable.
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Revival: How Brian Jotter Brought Mike Ejeagha’s Music Back
Nearly 41 years after its publication, in 2024, “Ka Esi Le Onye Isi Oche” saw an incredible comeback, courtesy of renowned Nigerian skit and content creator Brian Jotter (actual name Chukwuebuka Emmanuel Amuzie).
Using TikTok and Instagram, Brian Jotter introduced the timeless song to a whole new generation by transforming it into a lively dancing competition.
The outcome? Millions of views, a surge in viral content, and a resurgence of interest in Mike’s music among young Nigerians and fans worldwide.
In a sincere homage, Brain Jotter visited Mike and gave him ₦2 million as a token of appreciation and respect.
Reflecting on the moment, Brain Jotter said on Instagram: “39 years ago, he made magic (Gwo Gwo Gwo Ngwo song). Thirty-nine years later, we danced to it again. Now, he rests, but his melody lives forever.”
Brain Jotter isn’t the only one to have honoured the veteran singer.
Nigerian musician Kcee visited him in 2018 to request permission to use several of his songs, such as “Ome ka agu” and “Ka Esi Le Onye Isi Oche.”
On September 12, 2022, Pulse NG announced that Gentleman, a documentary about Ejeagha, was in production.
Mike Ejeagha’s Impact & Honours
The Enugu State Government honoured Mike Ejeagha in June 2024 by renaming the road leading to his home after him, formerly known as Obinagu Road. This was a component of a larger state-wide road rebuilding project intended to preserve cultural heritage.
His cultural significance extended beyond his homeland. The documentary Gentleman, which honours Mike’s life and legacy, was screened at Harvard University in April 2025. The film emphasised his significant contributions to Igbo storytelling, music preservation, and even a 15-year legal struggle over his music catalogue.
His commitment to maintaining oral tradition is solidified by the preservation of more than 300 recordings of his songs in Nigeria’s National Archives during his lifetime.
Mike Ejeagha’s Passing & Family
After a protracted fight with prostate cancer that was detected back in 2006, Mike Ejeagha passed away at the age of 95 on Friday, June 6, 2025, at approximately 8 p.m. in the 32 Garrison Hospital in Enugu.
Emma Ejeagha, his eldest son, attested that his father asked for a prompt funeral rather than a drawn-out mortuary embalming process.
Mike leaves behind his wife, children, grandchildren, and a country that has inspired his artistic vision.
