Honestly, I used to wonder why everyone hyped up Gentleman Mike Ejeagha as some champion of the Igbo oral tradition, but now I get it. It wasn’t just about singing for him – he literally put ancient Igbo stories, proverbs, and moral lessons into his lyrics. While most musicians just want a hit, Ejeagha’s music was like a history class and a pep talk in one.

I remember listening to one of his songs with my uncle and he pointed out how almost every line has a hidden meaning or a quote our elders use daily. Like, my family would debate what an Ejeagha song meant because they’re loaded with old Igbo wisdom. So, by making these stories and proverbs popular through music, he helped younger people learn stuff they might not get at home anymore. It’s actually pretty rare for entertainment to pass down culture like that, and that's why so many people—even politicians—called him a guardian of the tradition. It’s kinda cool when you think about it: he didn’t just make music; he kept a language and a way of thinking alive.