Who is Mike Ejeagha?
Mike Ejeagha is a Nigerian folk music crooner, guitarist, songwriter, and musician. He is famous for his classic songs like “Akanchawa,” “Enyi Ga Achi,” and “Uwa Ngbede Ka Mma”. Ejeagha’s 1983 song, “Ka Esi Le Onye Isi Oche” went viral on social media in 2024, after Nigerian comedian and skit maker Brain Jotter used the song in a skit.
Mike Ejeagha, aka Gentleman Mike Ejeagha, was born on April 4, 1930, in Imezi Owa, Ezeagu, Enugu State. As of the time of publishing this article (December 2024), the Igbo folk music crooner is 94 years old.
About Mike Ejeagha’s parents
Mike Ejeagha’s father was a civil servant who worked with the Ministry of Health in Enugu, while his mother was a dancer. However, full details about Mike Ejeagha’s parents are currently scarce.
About Mike Ejeagha’s siblings
Information about Mike Ejeagha’s siblings is currently unavailable. In fact, it is unknown whether the legendary Nigerian musician has any siblings.
About Mike Ejeagha’s educational background
For his primary education, Mike Ejeagha attended St. Patrick’s School, Ogbete Enugu. It remains unclear whether he pursued higher education.
How Mike Ejeagha started his career
Mike Ejeagha started his career at a very young age. In 1945, when he was just fifteen, Mike Ejeagha joined a local music group. In 1949, he began apprenticing with Cyprian Uzochiawa, a barber and a musician. Uzochiawa and a man called Moscow taught Mike Ejeagha how to play the guitar. Not long after, Mike Ejeagha started his band, known as Mike Ejeagha and the Merry-makers. Mike’s talent caught the attention of Atu Ona, controller of the Nigerian Broadcasting Service. Atu Ona offered Ejeagha a radio program called “Guitar Playtime.” Soon after, the “Ka Esi Le Onye Isi Oche” singer began performing on radio and producing musical programs.
During the Biafran War, Mike Ejeagha and his band parted ways. However, he continued to play on radio on a show called “Igbo Play” that was aired by Radio Nigeria. In 1972, after the war, Gentleman Mike achieved widespread fame after the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) invited him to be a guest presenter on an Igbo program called “Akuko N Egwu.” The show featured folk songs composed by Ejeagha and his band. The show’s success made the folklorist more famous and led to the popular Igbo expression “Akuko Mike Ejeagha,” securing his legacy as a legendary Nigerian musician.
Mike Ejeagha’s wiki profile
| Full name | Mike Ejeagharibe |
| Place of Birth | Imezi Owa, Ezeagu, Enugu State |
| Date of Birth | April 4, 1930 |
| Age | 94 years old |
| Marital status | Married |
| Kids | 10 |
| Height | N/A |
| Occupation | Igbo folklorist, songwriter, musician |
| Net worth | N/A |
About Mike Ejeagha’s marriage and wife
Mike Ejeagha has been married twice. He married his first wife in 1959, but sadly, she died in 1963. The Igbo folklorist then married his second wife, Susan Ejeagha, in 1965. According to reports, Mike Ejeagha’s second wife passed away in 2020.
About Mike Ejeagha’s wives
Full details of Mike Ejeagha’s wives are currently scarce. However, it is known that he and his first wife were together until her passing in 1963. Mike Ejeagha has three children from his first marriage. After remarrying in 1965, he welcomed seven more children with his second wife.
According to reports, Mike Ejeagha’s second wife Susan “Suzanna” Ejeagha died in 2020 at age 82. In 1995, the folklorist composed a love song “Suzanna Merringue” which he dedicated to his wife Suzanna.
About Mike Ejeagha’s kids
Mike Ejeagha has a total of 10 children: three from his first marriage and seven from his second marriage. Sadly, one of his children passed away in 2008.
Mike Ejeagha’s children include his son, Emma Ejeagha, and daughter, Elizabeth Ugwu (née Ejeagha). Like his father, Emma is a musician. However, little information is currently available about Mike Ejeagha’s other children.
