Renowned highlife musician and folklorist, Mike Ejeagha, has passed on at the age of 95.

Ejeagha died late Friday night at the 32 Garrison Hospital in Enugu, following a prolonged illness.

His death was confirmed by his eldest son, Emma Ejeagha, during a telephone conversation .

Mike Ejeagha was celebrated for his mastery in transforming Igbo folklore and proverbs into captivating musical narratives that educated and entertained generations.

His unique style of storytelling through music dominated Nigerian airwaves in the 1980s and earned him a revered place in the country’s cultural history.

One of his most iconic tracks, “Gwogwogwo,” gained renewed attention last year after popular stand-up comedian and skitmaker Brian Potter remixed the song, introducing it to a younger audience and sparking a resurgence of interest in Ejeagha’s work.

With a career spanning several decades, Ejeagha’s contributions to the preservation and promotion of Igbo language and culture through highlife music remain unmatched.

Tributes have begun pouring in from across the country, as fans, cultural institutions, and fellow musicians remember his profound impact on traditional music and his legacy as a custodian of oral tradition.

Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the family in the coming days

Rapper Travis Scott has been released from custody in Paris without charge, French authorities have said, after fighting with his bodyguard.

The 33-year-old US star was alleged to have attacked a security guard who attempted to break up the two men at the five-star George V hotel on Friday morning.

Mr Scott was held in custody for 36 hours before being released by police.

French prosecutors confirmed he had been let go and the case had been dropped because the offence had been “insufficiently established”.

On Thursday evening, Mr Scott, real name Jacques Bermon Webster, was photographed at Team USA’s Olympic basketball match against Serbia.

He was pictured next to American businessman Michael Rubin and fellow rapper Quavo, former frontman of hip-hop group Migos.

Earlier this year, Mr Scott was arrested in Miami in relation to an argument on a private yacht.

Showbiz news site TMZ has reported that prosecutors dropped a charge of disorderly intoxication against him, but he still faces a count of trespassing.

Mr Scott is a 10-time Grammy Award nominee and one of the biggest hip-hop acts in the world.

He was previously in a relationship with Kylie Jenner and the pair have two children together.

In 2021, 10 fans died in a crowd surge at his Astroworld festival in Houston, Texas.

He did not face criminal charges over their deaths, but remains involved in civil cases alleging that organisers were at fault.

Last year, he scored his first UK number one album with Utopia, which was released a week after a planned show in front of Egypt’s pyramids was cancelled.

By Aduku James

Tragedy has struck Nigeria’s entertainment industry, as legendary singer and actress, Onyeka Onwenu has reportedly died at the age of 72.

She was said to have died on Tuesday night at the Reddington Hospital in Lagos after slumping at the birthday party of Mrs Stella Okoli.

Reports available to SunriseNigeria quoted an eyewitness who was at the party to have  confirmed the news.

“It is very sad. Onyeka Onwenu just performed at the birthday of Mrs. Stella Okoli today (Tuesday, July 30, 2024), and after performing, she slumped.

“She was taken to Reddington Hospital and she couldn’t make it,” the eyewitness said.

However, the deceased’s family has yet to announce her death as of press time.

The ‘One Love’ crooner will be remembered for her music albums such as In The Morning Light and Dancing In The Sun.

She also featured in movies such as  Half of a Yellow Sun and Lions Heart, among others.

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