Title: Laz Ekwueme Life History: Age, Career, and 4 Facts About the Nigerian Musicologist
Who Is Laz Ekwueme?
Laz Ekwueme, born Lazarus Edward Nnanyelu Ekwueme, is a Nigerian musicologist, composer, scholar, actor, and traditional ruler. He is regarded as one of the pioneer lecturers of music in Nigeria and is credited with helping develop African Art Music, a style that blends Western classical composition with African rhythms, languages, and cultural forms.
Beyond music, Ekwueme is known for his roles in Nigerian films and for serving as the traditional ruler of Oko Kingdom in Anambra State.
What Is Laz Ekwueme’s Age and Family Background?
Laz Ekwueme was born on January 28, 1935, in Oko, Anambra State, Nigeria, which makes him 91 years old as of September 2026.
He was born into a religious and academically minded family. His father worked as an Anglican missionary teacher, and Ekwueme was the third son in the family. He is the younger brother of the late Alex Ekwueme, who served as Nigeria’s first elected Vice President from 1979 to 1983 and later helped found the People’s Democratic Party, one of Nigeria’s major political parties.
What Is Laz Ekwueme’s Educational Background?
Laz Ekwueme completed his primary education in Oko before attending Government College Umuahia for secondary school, from 1948 to 1954.
He then traveled to the United Kingdom, where he earned a diploma and later a Master’s degree in Music from the Royal College of Music in London, and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Durham. In 1962, he obtained a professional teaching diploma as a Licentiate of the Guildhall School of Music. He went on to complete postgraduate work in Music Theory at Yale University in the United States, submitting a thesis titled “Ibo Choral Music: Its Theory and Practice.” Across his studies, Ekwueme earned about 10 diplomas and degrees in music and drama.
What Was Laz Ekwueme’s Music Career?
Laz Ekwueme returned to Nigeria in 1964 and joined the faculty of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, which became the first Nigerian university to award music degrees. He taught music composition, theory, history, singing, and conducting.
As a lecturer, Ekwueme organized the University of Nigeria Choral Society, giving foreign and local students a platform to perform regularly on campus. He had earlier founded the New Haven International Chorus while studying at Yale. Across his academic career, Ekwueme became known as Nigeria’s foremost professor of music, with a particular focus on choral composition and African musicology, and he is recognized as a prolific author of books and academic writing on African music theory.
Is Laz Ekwueme Also an Actor?
Yes. Laz Ekwueme built a second career as a Nollywood actor, joining the Nigerian film industry in the early 1990s while still active in academia.
He became widely recognized for his role in “Igodo,” a hit Nigerian film that brought him fame beyond music and academic circles. Ekwueme has since appeared in multiple Nollywood productions, adding actor and producer to his list of professional roles.
What Is Laz Ekwueme’s Role as Traditional Ruler of Oko?
Laz Ekwueme serves as the Igwe, or traditional ruler, of Oko Kingdom in Anambra State, holding the title Igwe Eze Ijikala II.
He has used the role to support cultural heritage and traditional governance in his hometown alongside his academic and creative work. His time as monarch has not been entirely free of dispute. In 2014, a group of youths in Oko publicly called for his removal as traditional ruler, though he has continued to hold the title since.
Laz Ekwueme FAQs
Is Laz Ekwueme Related to Alex Ekwueme?
Yes. Laz Ekwueme is the younger brother of Alex Ekwueme, who served as Nigeria’s Vice President from 1979 to 1983 and later co-founded the People’s Democratic Party.
What Is Laz Ekwueme’s Net Worth?
Laz Ekwueme’s net worth is not officially confirmed. Some profiles estimate it at between $800,000 and $3.5 million, drawn from his decades of work in academia, music, and Nollywood, though this figure is best treated as an estimate rather than a verified number.
Is Laz Ekwueme Still Alive?
Yes. As of September 2026, Laz Ekwueme is 91 years old and remains active as a mentor and cultural figure in Oko and the wider Nigerian arts community.