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OPINION: Mike Ejeagha And The Power Of Music

Published

1 year ago

August 2, 2024

Tunde Odesola

I grew up hating my name, Isaac, after listening to Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s song, Upside Down, which he did with his American soulmate, Sandra Isidore, in 1976. Apart from his mother, the king-dethroning Madam Olufunmilayo Ransome-Kuti, Sandra was a major influence in the radicalisation of Fela, burnishing his art and heart with the socio-political wildfires called Blackness and Africanness spreading across the US, Europe and Africa to other parts of the world at the time.

Harnessing the genius of multi-talented designer, artist, painter and illustrator, Lemi Ghariokwu, whose brush drenched the sleeves of Fela’s albums in rainbowy colours, the Afrobeat god granted Ghariokwu the artistic licence to design and write the lyrics of his songs on his album sleeves. Ghariokwu made the best of the opportunity presented by Fela, soaring to world acclaim. The sleeve designs of ‘Yellow Fever’, ‘Zombie’ and ‘Beasts of No Nation’ are still vividly etched in my memory.

Not novel to the Nigerian music industry, the illustrations and lyrics on Fela’s album sleeves made it easy for his lovers and haters to understand the anger in his protest songs. Personally, the illustrations and lyrics made me internalise his gospel, though I was young.

Despite being a consummate Christian, my father, who was his fan, didn’t know he was planting the seeds of Black African consciousness in me by buying Fela’s albums. I remember my mother also bought the 1973 album of St Gregory’s College teenage students’ group, Ofege, titled ‘Try and Love’.

Leader of the group, Melvin Ukachi, revealed that Ofege was an abridged form of ‘O fo gate’, which means ‘he jumped the gate,’ a term used for Army deserters on French leave aka AWOL or students who left the dormitory without permission.

Isaac!? “No, I’m not sick,” I would say – in derision of my name – and would tell whoever cared to listen how wrong it was for me, a Yoruba, to bear a Jewish name when Jews don’t bear Yoruba names. In my fledgling ideological radicalism, I saw reason in Fela and Sandra, who sang in ‘Upside Down’ that, “Englishman get English name, American man get American name, German man get German name, Russian man get Russian name, Chinese man get Chinese name, but African man no dey get African name…everything disorganise, patapata…”

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As a youngster, I never plucked up the courage to tell my parents how much I disliked the Isaac name. Who born me? But when I came of age, I did tell my father how kobo-wise and naira-foolish I think it was for anyone to go to Jerusalem or Mecca on pilgrimage in the hope of making it to Paradise. I also told him how illogical I think it was for Nigerians to communicate with God in foreign languages such as Arabic, Italian, Hebrew etc when God understands all languages.

Fela intended his songs as a tool for social change. With the cult following he enjoyed, Fela knew his songs would sprout disciples in many nations. Though I didn’t smoke marijuana, I became a disciple of Fela’s gospel, always leaving my shirt unbuttoned at the chest, a behaviour which often fetched my mother’s swift ‘ifakun’ slap on my flat-screen chest, ‘twai’; ‘it’s not in this house you will become a Fela disciple! Button up, you goat!’

Just 18 when he met Fela, Ghariokwu had done a portrait of the Abami Eda and went to present the work to him. Fela reportedly offered Ghariokwu four times the worth of the painting but the creative turned down the money, thus earning a lifetime ticket to Kalakuta Republic.

As a result of his diligence with Fela, self-taught Ghariokwu achieved international repute, exhibiting in major museums across the globe, granting interviews to global media organisations, including CNN and designing album covers for Bob Marley, Osita Osadebe, Kris Okotie, Lucky Dube, Miriam Makeba etc. Also, he designed album covers for 2Face, Lagbaja, Sound Sultan, Falz, Brymo and record labels such as EMI, CBS and Ivory Music. He also recorded a song, Omolakeji, in 1992, featuring Daniel Wilson aka Mr Ragamuffin.

At 94, folklorist and master guitarist – Gentleman Mike Ejeagha – is at the Departure Lounge of Life International Airport, awaiting his last flight. A soft female voice wafted through the airport’s Public Address System, saying: “Passenger No 01-08-1932, Pa Mike Ejeagha, your attention is needed. You are about to board the wrong flight. Please, go back to the Arrival Lounge, a convoy is waiting to take you back home, courtesy of popular comedian, Brain Jotter.”

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And Gentleman Ejeagha burst into tears.

In music, folderol is a refrain with no meaning though it may be rhythmic. ‘Gwo, gwo, gwo, ngwo’ is a folderol, just as ‘Eweku ewele’, the Yoruba version of ‘Gwo, gwo, gwo, ngwo’ is. ‘Gwo, gwo, gwo, ngwo’ and ‘Ewku ewele’ are refrains in the Igbo and Yoruba folktales that showcase how little Tortoise differently tricked the almighty Elephant. ‘A o m’erin j’oba’ is the Yoruba version of the folktale. At best, both refrains signify the footfalls of the Elephant: ‘Gwo, gwo, gwo, ngwo’, ‘Eweku ewele’.

Ejeagha had only been known within the resilient Biafra enclave until fate blew fame his way recently, after his 1983 song, Ka Esi Le Onye Isi Oche, became the 14th most searched song in the world because the song went viral when Brain Jotter created a funny dance step and used the song in his comic skit.

In Igbo land, the name Mike Ejegbha is synonymous with storytelling such that whenever someone is engaging in a long speech, the audience would say, ‘Akuko Mike Ejeagha,’ meaning ‘Storytelling like Mike Ejeagha’.

Ejeagha simply means ‘Safe journey’. As a nonagenarian, one of the prayers of the Imezi Owa-born indigene of Enugu State would include a safe journey back home to his Maker for he had run a good race, fought a good fight and was waiting on his Lord before Brain Jotter appeared in the sky to give him fresh wings to fly, once again, among stars. It’s destined that Ejeagha’s song would be sung by this generation.

You can’t enjoy Ka Esi Le Onye Isi Oche if you play it on mobile devices. Get the music on a stereo and hear the booming ‘udu’ tempering the classic guitar work played on D major scale. It’s crazy.

Over the years, degeneration in moral values has seen Nigerian society abandon didactic musical messages for the current hurricane of irritatingly noisy music full of fury, materialism, sex, ritualism and outright stupidity.

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Music is powerful. I should add ‘very’ to the power of music. The walls of Jericho fell to music. David won the heart of God with music. Music is the food of love. It’s also the fuel for war. Music made me hate Isaac till tomorrow. Music is very powerful. Music is making Gentleman Ejeagha float on cottony clouds in the evening of his life, fulfilling the prayer of Everyman – to finish well in life; to not wear rags after donning coats of many colours, to not eat bone after eating choice meat.

By the way, who invented music? Who invented dance? There’s no historical evidence as to who invented music but dance, one of the most expressive physical art forms, evolved from prehistoric times as a celebratory worship form in spiritual rituals, creating family and communal bonds. Egypt and India are believed to be the earliest roots of dance.

There’s an unmistakable affinity between Igbo and Yoruba languages despite the political wedge being driven between the two great peoples. The Igbo call the elephant ‘enyi’ while the Yoruba call it ‘erin’. The mouth is ‘onu’ in Igbo, it’s ‘enu’ in Yoruba just as the ear, called ‘nti’ in Igbo, bears ‘eti’ in Yoruba. The hand is ‘aka’ in Igbo and goes by ‘apa’ in Yoruba while the nose is ‘imi’ in Igbo and ‘imu’ in Yoruba. Torotoro is turkey in Igbo while it’s tolotolo in Yoruba. Goat, ‘ewu’ in Igbo, is ‘ewure’ in Yoruba. Corn is ‘oka’ in both languages just as fever is ‘iba’ in both.

In 2019, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, and Ohaneze Ndigbo agreed that the Igbo once lived in Ife. The Ooni, who said the Yoruba were aborigines of Ile-Ife, added, “We have to say the truth and the truth must set us all free, we (Yoruba and Igbo) are blood brothers.” But the National Deputy Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chuks Ibegbu, said the Igbo were the original occupants and owners of Ife before the arrival of the Yoruba. Historians should shed light on the issue.

A retired Associate Professor of English, Obafemi Awolowo University, Bolaji Aremo, whose research affirmed both Igbo and Yoruba languages were from the same parent language, said the similarities suggest that both languages lived in the same community at a time and that both ethnic groups were of the same ancestral stock.

Ejeagha is Igbo, yet the Yoruba dance ‘Gwo, gwo, gwo, ngwo’. The Igbo danced to Sina Peters’ ‘Ace’. Music is the powerful food of love.

Email: tundeodes2003@yahoo.com

Facebook: @Tunde Odesola

X: @Tunde_Odesola

News

Court Remands Man For Allegedly Cyberbullying Ebonyi Rep Member

Published

2 hours ago

November 25, 2025

Editor

A Magistrate Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital, has remanded a 52 years old man, Chinagwo Paul Nweke, for allegedly cyberbullying a lawmaker, Mr Chinedu Ogah.

Ogah is a member of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, where he is representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency of Ebonyi State.

Nweke’s remand followed his arraignment on a three count charge by the police on Tuesday.

According to court records in the suit numbered MAB/616c/2025, the suspect is accused of committing an offence punishable under section 516 A (a) of the Criminal Code, Cap 33 , Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.

The document reads: “That you Chinagwo Paul Nweke ‘m’, and others now at large sometime in (October at Abakaliki within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to Wit: 516 A (a) of the Criminal Code, Cap 3Vol:, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.

“That you Chinagwo Paul Nweke ‘m’, and others now at large did transmit a live broadcast via Facebook account of Amarachi Nweke ‘f’, to place the said Comrade Chinedu Ogah in fear of Death, Violence and Bodily harm and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 24(2)(a) of Cyber Crimes (prohibition Prevention Act2015, as amended.

“That you Chinagwo Paul Nweke ‘m’ on the same date, place and in the aforementioned magisterial District did intentionally transmit a live broadcast via Facebook account of Amarachi Nweke ‘f’, which contained threat to harm the reputation of Comrade Chinedu Ogah whom you accused of a crime in the said broadcast and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 24 (2) (c) of Cyber Crimes (prohibition Prevention) ACt 2015, as amended.”

Sanwo-Olu presents N4.2tr 2026 budget to Lagos Assembly
When the matter came up for hearing, counsel to the defendant, Cyprian Udu, applied for bail for his client.

But police prosecutor, Eberechukwu Obi opposed the bail application.

In his ruling, Magistrate Sandra Onyibe declined jurisdiction on the matter.

She ordered that the case file be transferred to the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, for further advise on the matter.

The matter was adjourned to 9th December, 2025, for further hearing

Speaking to reporters, counsel to the complainant, Uchenna Collins Egba, said his client is ready to pursue the matter to a logical conclusion.

“It is just a cause of justice. If an allegation is made against any defendant, just as it is made against Chinabuo Paul Nweke, the police have to do their own part of the job. Finally, they should arraign the defendant, just as they just did.

“The defendant is Chinagwo Paul Nweke, whereas the nominal complainant is Comrade Chinedu Ogah in this matter. Well, the position of the law is simple, that the court lacks jurisdiction. This is the Chief Magistrate Court of that matter. But the truth is that when it comes to cyber crime laws and this prohibition aspect, the Magistrate Court is not given the jurisdiction to entertain such matters.

“It is only the High Court or the Federal High Court, specifically. So the Magistrate Court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain this matter and that’s why they remanded the defendant. And he was equally informed of his right to appeal at the High Court for his bail because generally, bail is at the discretion of the court.

“But the truth is that there are offenses that are not triable by certain courts, and there are offenses that are triable by certain courts. In the instant case, the offense to which the defendant is charged cannot be tried by the Magistrate Court. That is what gave rise to the ruling that he be remanded.

“But yet, he should know that he still has that right to appeal for bail at the High Court. It is adjourned for what we call a report of compliance because the orders of the court is that all the inventory of the case file of this matter be transmitted, be transferred to the Honorable Attorney General’s Office for it to vet the file and know the next step to take.

“This matter is adjourned as it is in line with the laws for compliance in two weeks. Every two weeks, this matter will be coming up so that the Magistrate in charge of this matter will know if the Honorable Attorney General has done the needful by vetting the court case files.”

News

Insecurity: Nigerian Govt Launches Online Classes For Secondary School Students

Published

2 hours ago

November 25, 2025

Editor

The Federal Ministry of Education has introduced the Inspire Live(s) Online Real-Time Classes Initiative, a national digital learning scheme designed to broaden access to quality education for children across the country.

In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, the ministry described the project as an innovative step toward ensuring equal learning opportunities for all Nigerian pupils.

It noted that the initiative supports the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

The ministry explained that the programme was developed to tackle persistent gaps in the education sector, such as limited availability of qualified teachers and frequent disruptions to academic activities.

Through real-time, interactive virtual lessons, the ministry stated that Inspire Live(s) “democratises access to quality education and ensures that no child is left behind regardless of location or circumstance”.

The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, confirmed that the initiative is already fully operational. He added that the deployment “is underway, with expansion set to cover all classes from Primary 1 to Senior Secondary 3.”

At present, the Inspire platform provides online lessons for students in JSS and SSS levels.

The ministry further noted that the classes take place “Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m.” and are taught by “certified master teachers using Cisco Webex.”

The statement also highlighted the range of subjects available to Junior Secondary School students, including Mathematics, English Language, Basic Science, Basic Technology, ICT, Agricultural Science, Civic Education, French, Physical Education, Religious Studies, History, and Business Studies.

Senior Secondary School students can access lessons in Mathematics, English Language, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Economics, Geography, Agricultural Science, Technical Drawing/Catering Craft, Civic Education, and Automobile Mechanics.

To ensure uniform adoption nationwide, the ministry revealed that detailed directives have been sent to state Commissioners for Education.

These instructions include the nomination of “a State Focal Officer to coordinate Inspire Live(s) activities,” and the distribution of “programme details to all public and private school principals.”

States were also mandated to “ensure designated schools are equipped with basic ICT facilities and internet connectivity,” as the success of the programme depends on a minimum level of digital readiness.

The ministry added that school principals are solely responsible for registering their institutions for participation, stating that registration “is strictly to be conducted by school principals via the Inspire support channels.”

It emphasised that the online classes are accessible to the entire education ecosystem, clarifying that the programme “is open to all public and private schools in the country to access.”

News

Sanwo-Olu Presents N4.2tr 2026 Budget To Lagos Assembly

Published

2 hours ago

November 25, 2025

Editor

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tuesday laid before the Lagos State House of Assembly a N4.237 trillion Appropriation Bill for the 2026 fiscal year, describing it as an ambitious, future-driven financial plan aimed at solidifying his administration’s legacy in its final full year.

Presenting the proposal, titled the “Budget of Shared Prosperity,” the governor said it reflects the collective optimism that Lagos will continue to expand opportunities, strengthen its leadership role, and reinforce its status as Africa’s foremost megacity.

Sanwo-Olu disclosed that the budget projects total revenue of N3,993,774,552,141, comprising N3.12 trillion in Internally Generated Revenue and N874 billion in expected Federal Transfers. The funding structure, he noted, leaves a deficit financing requirement of N243,332,457,167.

For the 2026 fiscal year, capital expenditure is set at N2,185,085,419,495, while recurrent expenditure stands at N2,052,021,589,812. He explained that the recurrent component covers overheads, personnel costs, and debt obligations.

A breakdown of recurrent spending shows total overhead costs of N1,084,245,843,091, including general overheads, subventions and dedicated expenditures, while personnel costs amount to N440,494,339,384. Recurrent debt charges are projected at ₦143,876,701,943, with debt repayments estimated at N383,404,705,394.

Sanwo-Olu also outlined the sectoral distribution of the 2026 budget. General Public Services will receive N847,472,071,966; Public Order and Safety, N147,040,088,897; and Economic Affairs, N1,372,307,808,626. The Environment Ministry is allocated N235,957,235,138, while Housing receives N123,760,310,429.

The Health sector is earmarked N338,449,258,945; Education gets N249,132,921,287; Social Protection, N70,024,171,038; and the Recreation and Culture sector will take N54,682,339,586.

The governor said the year 2026 carries special weight as the last full calendar year of his administration, describing it as a period crucial for consolidating achievements and ensuring a “strong, successful finish.”

He reaffirmed his commitment to completing all ongoing and newly initiated projects, adding that his administration will continue to prioritise citizen engagement to ensure government decisions reflect the needs of Lagosians.

According to him, Lagos is entering a new phase of “accelerated impact,” driven by sustained investment in infrastructure, human capital, social welfare and governance systems that are “intentional, inclusive and future-oriented.”

Sanwo-Olu reiterated his administration’s core mission: “To keep Lagos secure, to keep Lagos working, to keep Lagos growing, and to make sure the prosperity we build is shared by everyone who calls this centre of excellence home.”

He commended the Lagos State House of Assembly for its consistent partnership, describing the lawmakers as steadfast allies in the state’s development journey. He also praised the civil service for its hard work in translating government vision into measurable progress.