Emmanuel Ntia was one of the foremost highlife musicians who started his career in the early fifties with the Uyo Brass Band. This great Saxophonist was invited to Benin’s former Mid-Western Region to form an Orchestra ‘Uduje Dance Band’ at the Uduje Hotel. End 50s he left for Aba where he was invited by the Atlantic Hotel to form the Eastern Star Dance Band Aba with only high-level musicians such as Burstic Kingsley Bassey who vocalized the early 60s huge hit Baby Pan Cake that has remained one of the all-time greatest hits of the highlife genre. For the continent his performance at the African Festival of Arts and Culture Festac 1977 won him the Golden Gong award and made him a living legend. Emmanuel Ntia passed on in 2018 at age 94 at his village Abak Cross Rivers State.