The Origins and Cultural Significance of Music: A Case Study of Mike Ejeagha
Conference: The 23rd Annual International Conference of the Igbo Studies Association (ISA) (2026)
Presenter(s): Uchechukwu Kelvin Okoro
Presentation Date: May 14, 2026 @ 18:34 PM
Tags: Nigeria Igbo Gospel Music Ministers Association (IGMMA) Lagos State
Abstract
Music is a structured combination of sounds that are perceived as pleasant and meaningful to the human ear. Its origins can be traced to simple rhythms and vocal calls, which played a vital role in early human societies for communication, community bonding, and spiritual practices. Early humans engaged with natural sounds—such as wind, water, and animal calls—and gradually learned to imitate and organize them. The earliest known musical instruments include bone flutes, along with various percussion tools fashioned from sticks, stones, and other natural materials. As human societies evolved, music became deeply embedded in ancient civilizations, functioning as a medium for storytelling, cultural transmission, and religious expression. This paper highlights music within an African context through a case study of Mike Ejeagha, a renowned highlife musician from Enugu State in southeastern Nigeria. Ejeagha began his musical career in 1948 with the Coal Camp Boys, growing up in a culturally rich environment during a period when highlife music was gaining prominence across West Africa. In the early 1980s, he released the album Ka Esi Ree Onye Isi Oche (How the Chairman Was Sold), which exemplifies the use of music as folklore-based storytelling and social commentary. Overall, music emerged as a fundamental human response to the world—evolving from simple imitations of nature into a complex and universal language that connects cultures and expresses profound human experiences. It serves as an outlet for joy, sorrow, moral instruction, and spiritual connection.
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