The President, MuhpunchingBuhari; Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, and the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) have condoled with the family of late music lengend, Sir Victor Uwaifo, who died in Benin City, the Edo State capital, on Saturday, August 28, 2021, at the age of 80.
Buhari announced the late Uwaifo left an inheritance of successes in many areas of life, including education and administration.
The music hero, had the hit tracks Joromi and Mammy Water, which was a multi-instrumentalist and renowned essential artist.
One of his offspring, Peter ‘de Rock’ Uwaifo, announced the news of the death of the educator of visual arts on his Facebook page.
However Peter did not disclose the reason of his father’s death, he conveyed sadness at the passing of the music star.
“Daddy, why did you leave us now? Prof Sir Victor Uwaifo has gone to rest. Black Saturday for me now. One week after collaborating with me.”
An announcement by the president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, was titled, ‘President Buhari mourns legendary music artiste, Sir Victor Uwaifo’.
“The President joins the Nigerian music industry and performing artistes, home and abroad, in mourning the first Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism (Edo State), who was also the first musician and instrumentalist to be given a national honours merit, Member of the Order of the Niger, in 1983. The President believes the renowned musician, with global appeal and recognitions, lived for many firsts, which include an invitation to the State House by four presidents and heads of state, and winner of a gold disc in Africa for his song, ‘Joromi’, released in 1965 at the age of 24.”
Conveying shock at the death of the icon who served as a commissioner under the leadership of a former governor, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, Obaseki, in a statement titled, ‘Obaseki mourns death of the legendary musician, Prof. Victor Uwaifo,’ said, “I received the news of the loss of celebrated composer and art educator, Prof Victor Uwaifo, with shock and sadness. He was talented, phenomenal and an illustrious son of Edo State who wowed the world with his array of skills, notably his music talent.
The state chapter of PMAN described the late musician as a great inspiration to others in the state. The state Chairman of the association, Eghe Nova, noted that ‘he inspired a lot of people. He was the most educated musician that we had so we had been using him to tell other musicians that musicians are not dropouts. At least, he was able to prove that. One doesn’t have to be a failure to go into music.”
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