The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.); Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, and the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria have condoled with the family of late music maestro, Sir Victor Uwaifo, who died in Benin City, the Edo State capital, on Saturday, August 28, 2021, at the age of 80.
Buhari said the late Uwaifo left a legacy of successes in many areas of life, including education and administration.
The music icon, whose hit tracks include Joromi and Mammy Water, was a multi-instrumentalist and renowned virtual artist.
One of his children, Peter ‘de Rock’ Uwaifo, broke the news of the demise of the professor of visual arts on his Facebook page on Saturday evening.
Though Peter did not disclose the cause of his father’s death, he expressed grief at the passing of the music star. He wrote, “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.”
A statement by the president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, was titled, ‘President Buhari mourns legendary music artiste, Sir Victor Uwaifo’.
It read in part, “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.”
He went on to pray for the repose of the soul of the departed and comfort for his many fans.
Expressing shock at the death of the icon who served as a commissioner under the administration of former governor, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, Obaseki, in a statement titled, ‘Obaseki mourns death of legendary musician, Prof. Victor Uwaifo,’ said, “I received the news of the loss of legendary musician and art teacher, 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.”
Copyright PUNCH.
