Celestine was born in 1940 in Abor, Udi local government area of Enugu state Nigeria.
Celestine was born in 1940 in Abor, Udi local government area of Enugu state Nigeria. He was an Igbo highlife musician, born to music loving parents. His father was a local performer of the ikpa, igede and ode genres of Igbo music, while his mother was a lead singer in women music group. His grandmother was also a folks singer and dancer. At a young age, with the help of his uncle, he learnt how to play the harmonium. After his primary education, he went on to Teachers Training College, but would later drop out to pursue a career in music. He started out with Mike Ejeagha's group in Enugu in 1962. He later joined Mr. Picolo's band and toured the Democratic Republic of Congo with the band. He later returned to form his band "Celestine Ukwu and the Music Royals in 1966 before the civil war broke out. After the war in 1970, his band emerged with a new name "Celestine Ukwu and the Philosophers." They distinguished themselves with a cool form of highlife like the Ige...