Nigerian highlife music icon and Edo-born, “Joromi” crooner, Sir Victor Uwaifo, is dead.
The music legend, whose “Mammy Water” album was a hit for decades, succumbed on Saturday at the age of 80.
One of his children, Peter “de Rock” Uwaifo, broke the news of the demise of the Professor of Visual Arts, University of Benin (UNIBEN) on Saturday.
While Peter did not disclose the cause of the death, he nevertheless expressed anguish over the passing of the music superstar.
The legendary musicologist served as Commissioner for Arts and Culture under Gov. Lucky Igbinedion.
“A First Class graduate of Visual Arts, UNIBEN, Uwaifo’s undergraduate project of a king on a horse is a signature arts poster at the Ekenwan Campus of UNIBEN.
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“Uwaifo played the guitar with dexterity and had highly ambulant kinetic dancing steps,” Peter said.
Uwaifo was born on March 1, 1941 in Benin City, Edo, and obtained his secondary school education at the Western Boys’ High School, Benin and St Gregory’s College, Lagos, from 1957 to 1961.
Uwaifo began playing the guitar when he was 12 years old.
He obtained a PhD in Architectural Sculpture from the University of Benin at the age of 77.
Uwaifo was also a Writer, Musical Instrument Inventor, university lecturer, and former Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism in Edo.
