Igbo music legend, Mike Ejeagha
The family of veteran highlife musician, Mike Ejeagha, popularly known as “Gwo gwo ngwo,” has buried him within 24 hours after his demise, in accordance with his wish.
Ejeagha passed away on Friday night at the age of 95 and was laid to rest on Saturday in his country home at Umuagba, Imezi-Owa in Ezeagu Council Area of Enugu State.
According to his eldest son, Ejeagha Jnr, the family had to act swiftly to fulfill their father’s wish. “I contacted members of my family and informed them that my father made a wish that he should be laid to rest 24 hours after his death,” he said in a telephone interview with NAN.
The son revealed that his father had sternly instructed him not to embalm his body after his death.
“My father instructed me as the first son that when he passed on, nobody should embalm him,” Ejeagha Jnr emphasized.
The family held an emergency meeting to discuss the burial arrangements, and after extensive deliberations, they decided to honor their father’s wish.
“We discussed extensively and even Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State was informed about it, and they all consented that whatever was his wish should be kept,” Ejeagha Jnr said.
The son warned that going against an elder’s wish could have serious consequences.
“There are a lot of consequential results if an elder said something and otherwise was done,” he cautioned.
Although the funeral ceremony has been concluded, the family plans to announce a memorial service soon. “His funeral ceremony would be announced soon,” Ejeagha Jnr revealed.
The family has set an example of honoring their father’s legacy by respecting his final wish. As the news of Mike Ejeagha’s passing continues to resonate with fans, his legacy will live on through his music and the memories he left behind.
