Nigerian highlife icon Mike Ejeagha was buried just a day after his passing, honoring his personal wish for a swift, unembalmed farewell.
Family, elders, and Governor Peter Mbah supported the decision, with a public celebration of life planned to honor his musical legacy.
New details have emerged surrounding the quick burial of legendary Nigerian highlife musician, Mike Ejeagha, who was laid to rest just 24 hours after his passing. The 95-year-old music legend, celebrated for his evergreen folk hit “Gwo Gwo Gwo Ngwo,” passed away peacefully on the evening of Friday, June 6, 2025. He was buried the following day, Saturday, June 7, in his hometown of Umuagba, Imezi-Owa, located in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The decision to bury him so swiftly was not made lightly. Speaking to journalists on Sunday, his eldest son, Emmanuel Ejeagha, explained that the prompt burial was carried out in accordance with the deceased’s final wish.
“My father made it abundantly clear before he passed that he did not want to be embalmed or kept for long after death,” Emmanuel said. “He instructed me, as his first son, that he should be buried within 24 hours of his passing. We’ve simply honored his wish.”
Emmanuel further noted that the decision was taken after wide consultation with both immediate and extended family members, as well as elders of their community. He mentioned that Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, was notified of the late singer’s final wish, and the family received full backing to carry out the burial as requested.
“I called a meeting with our kindred, and we all discussed it. There was unanimous agreement that his final wish should be honored. In our culture, it is significant to fulfill the last wishes of an elder, as failing to do so can have spiritual and moral consequences,” Emmanuel explained.
SEE ALSO: Tinubu Mourns Legendary Folk Musician Mike Ejeagha
While the burial itself was conducted quietly and privately, the family confirmed that a public funeral and celebration of life ceremony will be held at a later date. This event will give fans, friends, and fellow musicians the opportunity to pay their respects and celebrate the enduring legacy of a man who shaped the sound of Igbo traditional music for decades.
Mike Ejeagha’s legacy lives on through his storytelling prowess and his lyrical use of proverbs that passed down cultural wisdom through generations. His contribution to music and heritage has cemented him as a towering figure in Nigeria’s artistic history.
