BEFORE THE CURTAIN FALLS: IGWE LAZ EKWUEME’S SUBLIME BOOK LAUNCH OF 26 CHRISTMAS CAROLS IN 7 NIGERIAN LANGUAGES ON SATURDAY, 6TH DECEMBER 2025

---

Ìgwè, Prof. Laz Ekwueme

---

By Kossy Ebunilo/Public Affairs Analyst

All roads in the South East in particular and Nigeria in general led to the International Conference Centre, Awka on Saturday, 6th December 2025 for the twilight book launch of the Doyen of Arts in Nigeria, the revered, renowned, versatile, celebrated, legendary, household-name and foremost Nigerian longest living Nonagenarian Musicologist, Igwe Prof. Laz Nnanyelu Ekwueme, Eze Ijikala II, Ozioko Igwe Oko.

---

---

An estimated sum of N20 million was realized during the launching. The highest sum of N3.25 million was donated by Barr. Ifekandu Okafor.

Governor Alex Oti of Abia State and the Primate, Christ Holy Church International and President, Christian Association of Nigeria, (CAN), His Eminence, Daniel Chukwudumebi Okoh each donated the sum of N2.5 million Naira

---

---

Chief Vin. Obianodo, Chief Obi Okafor and Chief Felix Ezeamama donated the sum of N1 million respectively, while others made donations ranging between N500,000 and N50,000.

The Chairman of the occasion and former Governor of Enugu State Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, CON, extolled the intellectual depth of Igwe Prof. Laz Ekwueme whose pioneering musical activity raised a generation of Musicologists both in Nigeria and Africa having attended highly rated Royal College of Music, London and ivy Yale University in US.

He eulogized his younger brother, Prof. Obumneme Ekwueme who taught him Surgery at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus and his elder brother Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Nigeria’s former Vice-President who he claimed mentored the entire Nwodo family in politics.

The former Governor of Anambra State and Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 Presidential election Mr. Peter Obi expressed regrets that great intellectuals in the mold of Igwe Prof. Laz Ekwueme were always neglected, undermined and undervalued in Africa unlike in the Western World and called on the Nigerian youths to emulate the sterling qualities and achievements of Igwe Prof. Laz Ekwueme.

The book launch attracted a cross-section of the roll call of the crème de la crème of prominent political leaders, traditional rulers, the academia, Captains of Industries, friends and well-wishers in the country. The Governor of Anambra State Prof. Charles Chukwuema Soludo, CFR Oluatuegwu was the Chief Host.

The book launch also attracted several prominent traditional rulers in the South East and beyond. They include the Obi of Onitsha and Chairman Emeritus of Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council, His Majesty, Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe CFR, mni, Agbogidi; His Majesty Chidubem Iweka III, Ogadagidi, Igwe Obosi; His Majesty, Israel Osita Okeke-Ezue, Egbeanagba Anyanwu, Igwe Awa Chairman, Orumba North Traditional Rulers Council, etc.

The book reviewer of the Christmas Carols book launch, Prof. Onyee Nwankpa of the Department of Music, University of Port-Harcourt stated that the book “Christmas Carols from Nigeria is a collection of twenty-six (26) carols reflecting diverse linguistic and cultural landscapes of Nigeria.

”He also stated that the carols cover the Edo/Bini, Efik/Ibibio, English, Hausa, Igbo, Kalabari, Urhobo plus Yoruba languages.”