Igbo highlife veteran Prince Chijioke Mbanefo drops a new EP titled “EGBUO MAKA IWE,” a project rooted in the kind of cultural storytelling that has defined his catalogue for decades.
The title translates to “killed because of anger” in Igbo, and that theme alone tells you this is not a light listen.
Prince Chijioke Mbanefo has been one of the quieter constants in the Igbo highlife space, releasing records alongside his Ogbaru Brothers Band and collaborating with fellow traditionalists like Prince Igede Osadebe over the years. His catalogue carries the weight of someone genuinely embedded in the culture rather than performing for it. “EGBUO MAKA IWE” continues that tradition with a message-driven concept at its centre.
The production leans fully on live instrumentation, acoustic guitars, traditional percussion, and the kind of layered arrangement that Nigerian highlife built its identity on decades ago. Nothing here chases a modern crossover sound. It stays rooted, unhurried, and confident in its own identity.
Thematically, the EP uses anger as a mirror for broader human failures – pride, impulsive decisions, and the destruction they leave behind. It’s the kind of moral storytelling Igbo highlife has carried for generations, and Prince Chijioke Mbanefo handles it with the seriousness it deserves.
“EGBUO MAKA IWE” is the kind of project that rewards careful listening more than background play. Pull it up when you want highlife that actually has something to say.
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