Sir Victor Uwaifo, a Legendary Nigerian musician, guitarist, writer, sculptor, musical instrument inventor, and University Lecturer, has died after a brief illness.
He was 80 years old.
Uwaifo, who served as Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism in Edo State of Nigeria between 2001 and 2003, was born on March 1, 1941, in Benin City.
He attended Western Boys High School in his hometown and later, St Gregory’s College, Lagos. He subsequently proceeded to Yaba College of Technology, Lagos from where he obtained a National Art Diploma with distinction and shone as an outstanding athlete. He received a B.A Hons, First Class, Fine and Applied Arts from the University of Benin and a Masters’ Degree in Sculpting from the same university.
He also obtained a Ph.D in Architectural Sculpture from the same university where he lectured for several years.
His single “Joromi” became popular in 1969 and sold over 100,000 copies. Uwaifo made a large number of records throughout the 1970s and released more than 100 singles with his band Melody Maestros and Titibitis.
Uwaifo was honoured with the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) award by the Nigerian Government in 1983.
