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The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has expressed profound sadness over the passing of Mike Ejeagha, the celebrated highlife musician, folklorist, and cultural icon.
They have urged both the federal government and the Enugu State government to take concrete steps to immortalize his legacy.
Mike Ejeagha died on Friday at the 32 Garrison Hospital in Enugu after a prolonged battle with prostate cancer. He was 95 years old. Born on April 4, 1930, in Imezi Owa, Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State, Ejeagha’s life journey was a remarkable blend of culture, wisdom, and music.
His contributions transcended mere entertainment; he was a custodian of oral tradition and a beacon of Nigerian cultural heritage.
His music was more than entertainment—it was a form of education and cultural preservation, using wit and wisdom to transmit values, proverbs, and ancient stories to audiences both old and young.
Though already a household name, Ejeagha found renewed fame in July 2024 when one of his classic tracks unexpectedly went viral. Popular Nigerian comedian and content creator Brain Jotter used the track in a trending dance challenge that took social media by storm.
The routine featured two people performing a comical leg dance—often facing opposite directions, walking toward each other, engaging in dramatic steps, and then playfully chasing one another to the rhythm of the catchy chorus, “Gwo Gwo Gwo Ngwo.”
In a statement released yesterday, the national coordinator of HURIWA, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, emphasized that Mike Ejeagha should be remembered not only as a highlife legend but also as a national philosopher and cultural intellectual. “Ejeagha’s music elevated Nigerian and African traditions to global admiration.
He did not just play music; he preached timeless values, preserved oral traditions, and communicated through proverbs that crossed tribal boundaries. His messages were profoundly philosophical and deeply ethical,” Onwubiko said.
He further argued that Ejeagha’s body of work deserves academic recognition and study akin to that of literary giants such as Chinua Achebe. “His music should be studied as literature and philosophy worldwide. Mike Ejeagha deserves national immortality,” Onwubiko added.
HURIWA acknowledged the commendable efforts made by the Enugu State government, such as renaming a road after the music legend in 2024. However, the association expressed concern over the absence of visible action by the federal government to honor Ejeagha at the national level.
The organization called on Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State to spearhead the campaign for national recognition of the late icon. They urged that the process should start within Enugu—his birthplace and cultural foundation—before being escalated to federal institutions.
“We appeal to the Enugu State government not to limit its tribute to merely renaming a road. Instead, they should establish a Mike Ejeagha Centre for African Folklore and Music Philosophy in his honor.
“Furthermore, we urge collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission (NUC) to incorporate his music and its cultural significance into the General Studies curriculum of federal universities. If Enugu fails to lead this effort, the federal government may never act. The push for his immortalization must begin at home,” HURIWA stressed.
The call for national immortalisation seeks to ensure that Mike Ejeagha’s invaluable contributions to Nigerian culture, music, and philosophy are preserved and celebrated for generations to come.