Legendary singer Gentleman Mike Ejeagha’s 1982 album Akuko N’egwu has made a historic debut on the Nigerian Spotify chart at number 95, 41 years after its initial release. This notable accomplishment sets a new record as the oldest album ever to grace the chart.
The renewed interest in the album is mainly due to skit maker Brain Jotter, who featured the famous song “Ka Esi Le Onye Isi Oche” from the album in one of his comedic skits. This skit, especially the phrase “Gwo Gwo Gwo Ngwo,” caught the attention of both celebrities and music fans, igniting widespread curiosity and enthusiasm.
Ejeagha, now 91 years old, was visited by Brain Jotter in his residence in Enugu, where the skit maker offered him a sum of ₦2 million in appreciation for his musical contributions.
Ejeagha’s album has set a new record, now the oldest album to reach this milestone on the Spotify chart. This surprising development has returned the veteran artist to the public eye, presenting his timeless music to a fresh audience.
The song, a melodic Igbo folk tale, narrates the story of Enyi (the elephant) and Mbe (the tortoise), where the clever turtle outsmarts the strong elephant and secures a marriage with the princess by deceiving the elephant into thinking he is the king’s chief at the ofala festival. The refrain, “Enyi na aga, na anyi so gi na azu, gwo gwo gwo ngwo,” reflects the betrayal of the tortoise and his triumph in leading the elephant to the king.
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