In recent weeks, Nigerian comedian, Brain Jotter, set off a dance challenge ‘Gwo gwo gwo ngwo.” It was a line taken from the song of folktale musician Gentleman Mike Ejeagha in the I980s. Many people in Nigeria, Africa and other parts of the world joined in replicating the dance style and song. That drew attention to Ejeagha, leading to visits to his home in Enugu, in the southeastern part of Nigeria.
The visits made many people realise that Ejeagha is still alive. Not only that, it became known that he is 94 years old. That made it apparent that he is probably the musician who has lived the longest in Nigeria. But while everybody was preoccupied with the Gwo gwo gwo ngwo tune and dance style, nobody was asking why our musicians die early.
In the South-East, Ejeagha is the only musician I can remember who made it to over 90 years. Among his southeastern (or even the wider Igbo) contemporaries, Chief Osita Osadebe and Prince Morocco Maduka seemed to be among the few who went beyond 70 years. Osadebe died at 71, while Maduka died at 73. Oliver de Coque died at 61; Sir Warrior left at 52; Celestine Ukwu passed on at 37; Patty Obasi transited at 61; Pericomo Okoye left at 69. Paulson Kanu, Ali nwa Chukwuma, Muddy Ibe and others did not fare any better.
Thankfully, Charly Boy is still here and bubbling at 74. While compiling this list last week, Onyeka Onwenu was strong and kicking at 72. Suddenly, news came that she had passed on immediately after a performance in Lagos. That continued to worsen the longevity statistics of musicians in Nigeria.
In the South-West, Fatai Rolling Dollar made it to 85 years. He should be among the musicians who lived the longest in that zone. Fela Anikulapo-Kuti died at 58. Thankfully, Ebenezer Obey is 82 (even though he left music decades ago). Sunny Ade is 77 years old. Shina Peters is 66.
In the South-South, Sir Victor Uwaifo made it to 80 years. Before him, most of the musicians from the South-South did not live any longer. Cardinal Rex Lawson died at 32, Sonny Okosun (Sunny Okosuns) at 61, Christy Essien-Igbokwe at 50, Majek Fashek at 57, Ras Kimono at 60.
If musicians have not done well in terms of longevity, actors and actresses seem to have done worse. Except for a handful of Nollywood professionals like Bukky Ajayi who died at the age of 82, most actors and actresses, film producers, or directors who have passed on did not make it to 70, and there have been many on the list. Some of these movie professionals include Sam-Loco Efe, Justus Esiri, Enebeli Elebuwa, Festus Aguebor, Prince James Uche, Moji Olaiya, Olumide Bakare, Okwy Chukwujekwu, Obi Madubogwu, Ashley Nwosu, Murphy Afolabi, Saint Obi, Ojo Arowosafe (Fadeyi Oloro), Gbenga Richards, Ernest Asuzu, Sadiq Baba, Victor Olaotan, Pat Nebo, Yemi Lawrence Adeyemi, Tolani Quadri Oyebamiji, John Okafor, Cynthia Okereke, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, Rachel Oniga, Ada Ameh, Ify Onwuemene, Aishat Abimbola, Amaechi Muonagor, Ethel Ekpe, Ifeanyi Dike, Jim-Lawson Maduike, Babatunde Omidina (Baba Suwe), Bruno Iwuoha, Rich Oganiru, Sam Obiagu, and John-Paul Odonwodo (Junior Pope).
The key causes of death these days are heart attack, stroke, diabetes, kidney failure, and cancer. Once rare, these diseases claim the lives of our people in droves regularly these days. It is no longer strange to spend the evening with someone but hear the next morning that the person did not wake up from sleep. It is also not strange to hear that someone just collapsed at a function or in the office. In the past, such sudden deaths were usually attributed to some evil designs of enemies. But these days, families conduct autopsies and such autopsies usually reveal the cause of such deaths as heart attack or cardiac arrest precipitated by high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart problem, renal failure, etc.
In comparison, Western musicians, actors, and other entertainers live long. For example, with the exception of Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston, who died of man-made causes, most others died in their 80s or 90s. In recent years, Harry Belafonte died at 96; Tina Turner died at 83; Tony Bennet died at 96, etc. The health care system in the Western world is far better than what obtains in Nigeria, but other Nigerians that are not in the entertainment industry are also living long these days.
It is difficult to know how to avoid cancer, but most Nigerian musicians, actors and entertainers are not dying as a result of cancer. It is not the will of God that we have a heart attack or stroke or diabetes, neither is it our enemies that cause these deaths. Doctors say that the number 1 culprit is our lifestyle. This lifestyle covers what we put into our mouths, how we exercise our body, how we rest, etc. How often we take medical check-ups is also very important.
Our food has become too artificial. Fruits and vegetables, which are great for healthy living, are usually relegated to the background in Nigeria, while unhealthy sweet-tasting delicacies and alcoholic beverages are preferred. There are cars and motorbikes everywhere that make us hardly walk. Insecurity is also a factor that makes many not to go for a walk. The economy has tightened and people worry a lot about meeting up with their responsibilities as adults, parents and community leaders. That adds a lot of pressure on people too.
Ironically, even though people are living longer and looking healthier these days due to improved access to healthcare and healthier lifestyles, our musicians, actors, comedians, and other entertainers are still not living as long as expected. For actors and some other entertainers who don’t have much money at their disposal, there may be a challenge of giving themselves adequate healthcare. But successful musicians usually earn more money and therefore have more capacity to afford better healthcare locally and internationally.
There are signs that Nigerians are living longer these days than in the past. If life expectancy figures are used, that is evident. In 1960, life expectancy in Nigeria was 36.73 years; in 1970, it was 40.79; in 1980, it was 44.98; in 1990, it was 45.92; in 2000, it was 46.38; in 2010, it was 50.64; in 2020, it was 54.81; in 2024, it was 56.05. Life expectancy is still low in Nigeria but it has been rising consistently.
Even if one does not use life expectancy data but chooses to compare the ages of prominent people in Nigeria with their counterparts who died in the last 20 to 40 years, one can see the huge difference. For example, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe lived the longest among his contemporaries, and it seemed as if he was Methuselah. But he was only 91 when he passed on in 1996. Some years before that, he was no longer attending events. In comparison, Chief Edwin Clark is 97 years today and still grants interviews and addresses press conferences. Pa Ayo Adebanjo is 96 and still grants interviews and speaks at events. Chief Emeka Anyaoku is 91, Prof. Wole Soyinka is 90; General Yakubu Gowon will be 90 in October. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo is 87 – as well as diabetic. Yet they are still moving around unaided. They attend events and deliver speeches.
In my immediate environment, I can see the same signs. The Igwe of my hometown, Nnewi, His Royal Highness KNO Orizu, will be 99 years old on October 30. He still attends events and delivers speeches and grants interviews. My secondary school principal, Sir C. C Okoye, is 97 and still strong. My father, Elder J.G. Onwuka, died four years ago at 90. His elder brother died two weeks before him at 92 years. They were attending events until a few days before their transition. Some of their contemporaries in the extended family and our village are still alive in their 80s and 90s. It was not like this in the 1970s, 80s, 90s. And these are people whose birth was documented because they were born into families of those who went to school or had converted to Christianity.
It is, therefore, hard to understand why our musicians (as well as other entertainers) don’t seem to be living as long as other members of Nigerian society. We need to look into what is taking away our musicians (and other entertainers) early. We need them around for long.
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