Veteran Nigerian highlife musician Mike Ejeagha has been buried in Enugu State, just 24 hours after his death.
The 95-year-old, fondly called ‘Gentleman,’ passed away on Friday after a prolonged illness.
He was laid to rest the following day in his hometown of Umuagba, Imezi-Owa, in the Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State.
In an interview, Emmanuel Ejeagha, the singer’s eldest son, said the decision to bury his father within 24 hours was in line with his final wish.
He said his father firmly instructed him, as the first son, that no embalming should be done after his passing.
“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.
“I also summoned a meeting of my kindred, and we discussed it extensively, and even Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State was informed about it, and they all consented that whatever his wish was should be kept.”
He added that funeral ceremonies will be held at a later date.
Ejeagha is considered one of the pioneers of the highlife genre in Nigeria.
He has been influential in the evolution of music in the Igbo language for over six decades.
In 2024, the ‘Ka Esi Le Onye Isi Oche’ crooner experienced a resurgence in popularity after Brain Jotter, a Nigerian skit maker, used the song for his viral dance moves.
The Enugu State Governor also rebuilt and renamed Obinagu Road in Abakpa Nike, in the state, in honour of Ejeagha.
