View source for Mike Eghan

{{short description|Ghanaian broadcaster (born 1939)|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Mike Eghan
| image =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|14 March 1936}}
| birth_place = [[Sekondi-Takoradi]], Gold Coast (present-day Ghana)
| death_date =
| death_place =
| occupation = Broadcaster
| other_names = The Magnificent Emperor
| education =
| known_for = ''The Mike Eghan Show''<br> MC of ''[[Soul to Soul (film)|Soul to Soul]]'' (1971)
| awards =
| notable works = ''The "Emperor's" Story – From the Centre of the World'' (2019)
}}
'''Mike Eghan''' (born 14 March 1936)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n2020230142.html|title=Eghan, Mike, 1936-|publisher=Library of Congress}}</ref> is a [[Ghanaian people|Ghanaian]] broadcaster, also known as "The Magnificent Emperor".<ref>[http://lifestyle.ghanabase.com/profiles/2007/28.asp "The Story Of Mike Eghan, The Magnificent Emperor"], ''Spectator'', 14 July 2007. Via ''Ghana Base''.</ref> In a career as a disc jockey and radio presenter spanning six decades, Eghan hosted programmes for the [[Ghana Broadcasting Corporation]] (GBC) and for the [[BBC World Service]] in London. He was the master of ceremonies for the historic concert in Ghana ''[[Soul to Soul (film)|Soul to Soul]]'', which took place in [[Black Star Square]] in 1971 and showcased many prominent African-American artists alongside Ghanaian musicians.<ref name=ModernGhana>Kweku Antwi-Otoo, [https://www.modernghana.com/news/952360/mike-eghan-launches-the-emperors-story.html "Mike Eghan Launches The Emperor’s Story"], 3news.com, via ''Modern Ghana'', 28 August 2019.</ref>
Eghan's autobiography, ''The "Emperor's" Story – From the Centre of the World'', was published in 2019.<ref name=Joy>[https://www.myjoyonline.com/news/2019/august-29th/veteran-broadcaster-mike-eghan-launches-autobiography.php "Veteran broadcaster Mike Eghan launches autobiography"], ''My Joy Online'', 29 August 2019.</ref> In the words of [[Anis Haffar]]: "The man's kaleidoscopic knowledge of show business, broadcasting, entertainment and politics is cast in the trenches of personal encounters. He shares history from the strategic standpoint of his own roles in the making of it."<ref>Anis Haffar, [https://www.graphic.com.gh/features/features/celebrating-mike-eghan-s-unforgettable-memoirs.html "Celebrating Mike Eghan’s unforgettable memoirs"], ''[[Daily Graphic (Ghana)|Graphic Online]]'', 19 August 2019.</ref>
==Background==
Born in [[Sekondi-Takoradi]], [[Gold Coast (British colony)|Gold Coast]] (present-day Ghana), the fifth of nine siblings, Eghan was inspired by his civil servant father Ben Eghan's passion for radio to join the [[Ghana Broadcasting Corporation]] (GBC) in 1961, after giving up a job with [[Barclays Bank]] that had been secured for him.<ref name=ModernGhana /><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpcEVD6DaLw "Personality Chat with Ace Broadcaster Mike Eghan On Live Chat With Paul"], etv Ghana, 2 September 2019.</ref><ref>Maureen Dedei Quaye, [https://www.etvghana.com/ace-broadcaster-mike-eghans-transition-from-banking-to-journalism/ "Ace Broadcaster Mike Eghan's Transition from banking to Journalism"], e.tv Ghana, 2 September 2019.</ref>
In 1965, he went to Britain, where he worked with the [[BBC World Service|BBC Africa Service]], hosting the programme ''Music with African Beat'' for four years.<ref name=ghanamma>[https://www.ghanamma.com/2011/03/11/i-quit-bbc-because-of-my-son/ {{"'}}I Quit BBC Because Of My Son'"], Ghana MMA, 11 March 2011.</ref> for some years. Photographs of Eghan taken during this time feature among the iconic work of veteran Ghanaian photographer [[James Barnor]].<ref>[https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/barnor-mike-eghan-at-the-bbc-studios-london-p14382 "James Barnor | Mike Eghan at the BBC Studios, London1967, printed 2010"], Tate.</ref><ref>Alexandra Genova, [https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2019/nov/29/james-barnor-ghanaian-photographer-swinging-sixties-independence-black-90 "Party time! The photographer who captured the other swinging sixties"], ''[[The Guardian]]'', 29 November 2019.</ref> Leaving the BBC, Eghan returned home to work with GBC, wanting to contribute to the development of Ghana and raise his children there.<ref name=ghanamma />
He has said: "One of the highlights of my career as a disc jockey and radio presenter was my role as emcee (master of ceremony) for the historic musical concert dubbed '[[Soul to Soul (film)|Soul to Soul]]'. The aim of this musical extravaganza was to bring Africans and African-American artistes together to jam on the African continent to retrace their historical roots. It was believed that such an attempt would galvanise Black people all over the world along with the vision that [[Kwame Nkrumah|Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah]] had for the Black Race."<ref name=ModernGhana /><!--dead link<ref name=TheRepublic>Felix Nyaaba, [http://therepublicnewsonline.com/2019/08/30/mike-eghans-the-emperors-launched-lifes-memoir-book/ "Mike Eghan’s 'The Emperor's' Launched Life's Memoir Book"], ''The Republic Newsonline'', 30 August 2019.</ref>--> High-profile soul, gospel and dance groups participated in ''Soul to Soul'', which took place in Black Star Square (now [[Independence Square (Ghana)|Independence Square]]), including [[Wilson Pickett]], [[Ike and Tina Turner]], [[Les McCann]], [[Eddie Harris]], [[The Staple Singers]], [[Carlos Santana]], [[Roberta Flack]], [[Willie Bobo]], the [[Voices of East Harlem]], and others.<ref name=ModernGhana /><ref>Arts Council of Ghana, [https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/6030924 ''Soul to Soul, Black Star Square, Accra, Ghana, 6th March, 1971 : with American and Ghanaian soul, gospel and dance groups, featuring Wilson Pickett (and others) : M.C., Mike Eghan''], Accra: Moxon Paperbacks, 1971.</ref>
Eghan's popular 1970s talk show, ''The Mike Eghan Show'', featured guests including [[Miriam Makeba]], [[Ephraim Amu]] and [[James Hackman Tachie-Menson|Captain J. H. Tachie-Menson]].<ref name=relaunch /> Eghan subsequently took employment as a Treatment Manager with the [[Volta River Authority]], then had another stint of work in the UK with the BBC.<ref name=ModernGhana /> Back in Ghana, he resumed work with GBC, and later ran the Sundown Hotel.<ref name=ModernGhana />
He launched his memoir, ''The "Emperor’s" Story – From the Centre of the World'', at the age of 83 in Accra in August 2019 at the [[University of Ghana]]'s [[Institute of African Studies]], the occasion presided over by Professor [[Esi Sutherland-Addy]].<ref>GNA, [https://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2019/09/08/mike-eghans-autobiography-launched-in-accra/ "Mike Eghan’s autobiography launched in Accra"], ''Ghana Business News'', 8 September 2019.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.graphic.com.gh/entertainment/showbiz-news/mike-eghan-s-autobiography-launched.html|title=Mike Eghan's autobiography launched|author=Joseph Kpormegbey|author2=Desmond Kofi Tawiah|website=Graphic|date=29 August 2019}}</ref>
==Awards and recognition==
A documentary film in honour of Eghan, produced by Andrew Gyawu-Mensah, was screened in March 2017.<!--dead link<ref>Edward Blagogee, [https://www.todaygh.com/documentary-mike-eghan-unveiled/ "Documentary on Mike Eghan unveiled"], ''Today Online'', 20 March 2017.</ref>--><ref name=documentary>[https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/entertainment/My-show-is-a-replica-of-the-Mike-Eghan-show-KSM-522718 "My show is a replica of the Mike Eghan show – KSM"], ''GhanaWeb'', 27 March 2017.</ref>
Eghan's awards include the [[Grand Medal]] in acknowledgement of his meritorious service in the media.<ref name=Joy /><ref name=relaunch>[https://www.modernghana.com/entertainment/14672/mike-eghan-to-relaunch-talk-show-on-etv-ghana.html "Mike Eghan to relaunch talk show on ETV Ghana"], ''Modern Ghana'', 11 March 2011.</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
==External links==
* [http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1243181/mike-eghan-piccadilly-circus-photograph-barnor-james/ "Mike Eghan, Piccadilly Circus"], 1967 photograph by [[James Barnor]]. V&A Collections.
* [https://artblart.com/tag/mike-eghan-at-the-bbc-studios/ "Mike Eghan at the BBC Studios, London"], 1967 photograph by James Barnor. ArtBlart.
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xykT7UCVUH0 "Mike Eghan - Personality Profile Friday on Joy News (12-9-14)"], MyJoyOnline TV.
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpcEVD6DaLw "Personality Chat with Ace Broadcaster Mike Eghan On Live Chat With Paul"], etv Ghana, 2 September 2019.
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ID1aDdg7OWc "Footprints with the former Broadcaster Mike Eghan on Citi TV"]. CitiTube, 18 November 2019. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-sDhgdd6hU "Footprints with the former Broadcaster Mike Eghan (Part 2) on Citi TV"], 23 November 2019.
* [https://www.myjoyonline.com/radio-gave-me-fame-not-wealth-mike-eghan/ "Radio gave me fame, not wealth – Mike Eghan"], ''Joy Online'', 11 August 2021.
* [https://thebftonline.com/2021/08/15/mike-eghan-on-y-leaderboard-series-the-journey-of-radios-magnificent-emperor/ "Mike Eghan on Y Leaderboard Series: The Journey of radio's 'Magnificent Emperor{{'"}}], ''The Business & Financial Times'', 15 August 2021. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukLFmgCP9a0 "Mike Eghan: The Journey of a 'Magnificent Radio Emperor{{'"}}], Y1079FM Accra, via YouTube.
* [https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Meet-Mike-Eghan-the-veteran-Ghanaian-broadcaster-who-dazzled-on-BBC-and-GBC-1366060 "Meet Mike Eghan, the veteran Ghanaian broadcaster who dazzled on BBC and GBC"], ''GhanaWeb'', 26 September 2021.
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[[Category:1936 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:21st-century memoirists]]
[[Category:BBC radio presenters]]
[[Category:Ghanaian broadcasters]]
[[Category:Ghanaian radio presenters]]
[[Category:People from Sekondi-Takoradi]]
[[Category:Talk radio hosts]]