Mike Ejeagha’ Life: A potential folklore for the next generation by Jarlath Uche Opara

Thirty two albums to his name.

He worked hard really!. No body would argue to the contrary that Mike Ejeagha didn’t pay his dues.He did, but what is very hazy is if this hard work could be shown in monetary values.

I saw his house when Brain Jotter visited him, I saw his children and equally saw the strength in him as he ages gracefully. What I didn’t see was the soft and flamboyant lifestyles of ostentatiousness that easily comes with a decent affluence.

Mike Ejeagha isn’t affluent, but his 32 albums spanning over 40 years very classic and creative enough to give him riches, so deserving.

What happened? Nobody cares to know. Each time I watch the videos of people visiting to pay him homage, expecially during this period Gwo gwo ngwo dance is trending, he would be seen shedding tears. Why the tears? Part of the symptoms of old age?

My uncle passed at the age 96, my maternal grandmother passed too at the age of 106, none of them had that symptom.

Mike Ejeagha is 91, could the symptom be peculiar to him? Or his is one of tears of regret ( Agwa ariri) tears that brought many years of regret of wasted effort, worked like an Elephant while eating like an Ant? Just thinking a loud, especially when the story between him and his record lapel wasn’t one to click glasses over some chilled champagne.

Life isn’t balanced . Like a casino it gives you what you never expected. It creates heartache when hopes of hitting jack pot is on the crescendo, having put your best, all one would hear is gwa gwa gwa, zero, with few coins dropping.

Could that be the case of Mike Ejeagha? I have taken time to listen to half of Mike Ejeagha’ lyrics. It may be mere folklores, beyond the folklores are lessons that could, if heeded to have the power to beat one out of foolishness to sense.

Of all that is happening around this legend, the maestro Mike Ejeagha is a deep lesson of Mike’s lifestyle, as folkloric as his folklores for the next generation.

His lifestyle would be a folklore told and narrated with musical tune for the next generation. It wouldn’t be about his life alone but one that would also cast Nigeria and Nigerians in same platform of Agwa ariri ( cry of regret) If nothing is done with regard to our present situation as Nigerians.

How would the lyrics of Mike Ejeagha life story sounds? A very powerful man, gifted with the creativity so stunning he could make nice story out of nothing in melodies. He worked so hard, everybody saw in him a star, bright enough to radiate even the darkness of his generation unborn. He waited for this moment.

Each day that passed, he looked for that moment, but it never came. Though he hoped for that day for his star to shine and dazzle, but the pain of watching helplessly how people feast and feed large on his gift made his heart to ache. Until one day, when hope was lost, waiting for his plane to take off to eternity, from nowhere the long waited shine and glint from the gold and diamond of his gift dazzled beyond the shores.

What a story! What a folklore! Could that be why he keeps on crying? Years lost, body floppy, bones weak, eyes dimmed, lifestyle lacklustre etc. Of what use is this fame at the twilight of his life? What value is money to him at this age? He is gradually exiting, his least of consideration is fame and popularity. He emptied himself, enjoying, not in so much a commesurate manner with the hard work and creativity he put in. He probably worked hard not smart? He probably worked like an Elephant but eats like an Ant.

In all these, the good news is, he saw the star shone to the fullest beyond the shores, before he goes airborne.

To this children, the horney pot is set for you. Mike Ejeagha you father laboured for it. Never behave like the Nigerian leaders who instead of protecting the horney pot left by our forefathers as yours did, they turned into Hawks, hyenas and glutinous vagrants and had it wasted.

In all these noise about gwa gwa gwa gwa ngwo dance and the life of this maestro Mike Ejeagha, I see Mike Ejeagha more from the angle of metaphor of our heritage and the bad, insensitive and wasteful leaders.

I see Mike in the light of our post and pre colonial leaders who fought for the future, laid down their lives and things for a better future, though saw a glimmer of it coming to pass before they all passed, while I see the children as both the masses and the leaders. If they decide to divide themselves into the masses and the leaders as presently constituted in Nigeria, I will certainly bet on my life , the song we are singing now they would sing soon.

Mike Ejeagha you are not only a specialist in folklores, you life is a folklore with deep moral lessons. Hope one day in my life time another Mike Ejeagha would arise to immortalise your lifestyle through melodious folklores.

Jarlath Uche Opara [email protected]