…anniversary set for September at Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub
As plans near conclusion towards the second remembrance anniversary of the passing of legendary musician, sculptor and inventor, Sir Victor Uwaifo (MON) at the Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub in Benin City, it has been recalled that his last musical effort was a Christian gospel tune titled ‘Hallelujah’, in collaboration with one of his nephews.
The late musician’s nephew, Peter the Rock Uwaifo, himself a gospel artiste and multi-instrumentalist, is reported to have said that Sir Victor Uwaifo collaborated with him in the recording of the gospel song.
Peter the Rock reportedly wrote on his social media page: “Daddy whyyyyyyyyyy did you leave us now? Prof Sir Victor UWAIFO has gone to rest. Black Saturday for me now. One week now after collaborating with me.”
The family of the late musician will be collaborating with the Edo State Government-driven Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub, in events marking the second anniversary of the passing of their patriarch.
The Victor Uwaifo Hub is named in honour of the late musician and acclaimed son of Edo State. Much of the activities to mark the anniversary will be held at the hub.
Family sources say the programme of events for the anniversary are being fine-tuned and will soon be released, while sources at the Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub say the collaboration is fitting, right and proper, given the late legend’s contributions to music, arts and culture in Nigeria, Edo State and the world at large.
Sir Victor Uwaifo was born on March 1, 1941, and he passed on at the age of 80 in Benin City, on August 28, 2021, reportedly of pneumonia.
He was a musician, writer, sculptor, and musical instrument inventor, university lecturer, music legend, and the first Honorable Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism in Nigeria.
He was the winner of the first gold disc in Africa (Joromi) released in 1965 and seven other gold discs in Guitar boy, Arabade, Ekassa series and Akwete music. He recorded under the name “Victor Uwaifo and His Titibitis”.
Victor Efosa Uwaifo was born in Benin City, Edo State, and obtained his secondary school education at the Western Boys’ High School Benin City and St. Gregory’s College, Lagos, from 1957 to 1961. He began playing the guitar when he was 12 years old, his earliest popular music influences being records of Spanish and Latin American music.
He studied graphics at Yaba College of Technology, Lagos State, and graduated in 1961–63 at the age of 22 years.
He received a bachelor’s degree with first-class honours at 54 years old (Valedictorian) and a master’s degree from the University of Benin in 1997 at 56 where he studied fine and applied arts and majored in sculpture.
The thesis for his PhD in architectural sculpture was entitled A reinvention of Benin Royal Ancestral Pieces.
After leaving Benin City, Uwaifo continued playing music at St. Gregory’s College, Lagos. He was a contemporary of the musician, Segun Bucknor, and they were both among the leading Lagos high school bandleaders of the time.
During school holidays and weekends, he jammed with late Sir Victor Olaiya’s All Stars band. After completing secondary school, he played with E.C. Arinze’s highlife band during late hours.
Uwaifo also briefly worked with another legendary highlife musician, Sir Stephen Osita Osadebe and Fred Coker before forming the Melody Maestros in 1965.
The band released “Joromi,” which became a hit in Nigeria and other parts of West Africa. Uwaifo made history in Nigeria when he won the first golden record in Nigeria, West Africa and Africa (presented by Philips, West Africa) for his song “Joromi” in 1996.
