Veteran highlife musician, Victor Uwaifo, is dead.
The popular guitarist and singer passed on at the age of 80.
According to a source, he died on Saturday, August 28 after a brief illness.
Born on March 1, 1941 in Benin, Edo State capital, Uwaifo recently celebrated his 80th birthday.
The legendary singer was nicknamed ‘Guitar Boy’ after he made a song with the same title. He is also known for his ‘Joromi’.
He was the first commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism. He was also the first professional musician to be awarded with the National Merit Honours of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON).
Uwaifo attended Western Boys High School in his hometown and later, St Gregory’s College, Lagos.
He went on to attend Yaba College of Technology, Lagos for his diploma.
The writer and musical instrument inventor received a B.A Hons, First Class, Fine and Applied Arts, and a Masters’ Degree in Sculpting from the University of Benin (UNIBEN).
Uwaifo also obtained a Ph.D in Architectural Sculpture from UNIBEN then later became a professor in the same university.
He is survived by his wife, Princess Osaretin, and his children. They celebrated their 30 years of marriage in 2018.
