Introduction: The Minstrel as the Custodian of Civilizational Memory In the vast and rhythmically complex tapestry of West African music, few figures loom as large or as distinctively as "Gentleman" Mike Ejeagha. While the highlife giants of the 20th century; Rex Lawson, Osita Osadebe, and Oliver de Coque; dominated the dance halls with boisterous brass and guitar-driven dance music, Mike Ejeagha carved out a unique, contemplative niche that bridged the ancient and the modern. He is no...