Veteran musician Prof. Victor Uwaifo says that “good and real musicians’’ must be able to play at least three musical instruments to be classified as musicians.
Uwaifo, a professor of arts, made the assertion when a delegation of the National Council of Arts and Culture visited his Revelation Tourists Palazzo Museum on Saturday in Benin.
The visit was part of activities to commemorate the 2019 edition of the National Festival of Arts and Culture.
Uwaifo said that a musician’s ability to play at least three musical instruments would distinguish such a musician in his music profession.
He said that due to technological advancements, some musicians only made use of computer facilities for musical production.
According to him, the dictionary defines a musician as someone who can play one or two musical instruments.
“I have always said this, if a musician is not able to study and play at least three musical instruments, there is a problem somewhere.
“I play a lot of musical instruments like guitar, xylophone, sax, keyboard and more. In fact, I make guitars. Years back, I made double-necked and revolving guitars.
“The younger musicians want to make money the easy way and they use computers for music production. Computer music is no music, playing life is the real one.
“When musicians with no academic background of music play music and they go off the line, they use the computer to re-align themselves. It is not proper.
“Musicians are to study music and take it seriously, they are not supposed to be carried away with technological advancements in making music. They need to learn the rudiments of music and arts.”
Uwaifo urged Nigerians to minimise their complaints on negative musical content in as much as Nigerian youths embracing music were not constituting nuisance to the society.
He said that Nigerian contemporary musicians must be commended for the improved musical video and sound quality, due to technological advancements.
“The issue of negative musical content would fade away over time but musicians should be commended for working for their money and staying off the road.’’
Uwaifo also told Nigerian musicians to imbibe the habit of investing their money wisely for future use and to aspire to be knowledgeable in their chosen careers.
*seeks govt take over of his music museum for posterity
Uwaifo made the call during a visit to his “Revelation Tourist Palazzo” Museum in Benin City on Friday by officials of National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) as part of the ongoing National Festival of Arts and Culture (NAFEST).
Uwaifo said that he had invested hugely in preserving the culture and history of the Edo people and Nigerians at large by establishing the timeless museum.
He said that the museum, which housed all his intellectual property, ancestral shrines, slave market peculiar with Edo state, rituals and more, was his contribution to humanity.
According to him, government or private investors could take up the management of the historically-rich museum to ensure proper preservation and conservation of the content.
” I have put in so much into the museum, my flesh, blood and money have been invested into the museum and I want government to take it over for proper management.
“I invested so much money into the museum which I could have put on fixed deposit.
” I am a fulfilled musician and artist, for me, there is nothing better than music and art because it gives me satisfaction.
” It makes me look forward to the future with pride,” said Uwaifor, famously known as Guitar Boy.
Uwaifo said that the museum was a beehive of activities since inception as it had recorded huge patronage from students who got entertained, educated and inspired through its works of art.
Responding after a tour of galleries within the museum, Chief Olusegun Runsewe, Director General of NCAC, promised to assist in maintaining the museum.
Runsewe promised to supply computer systems to the museum for proper data capturing which, he said, was very important to its growth.
” If this museum were to be in other countries of the world, tourists would be paying hugely to visit it, we must ensure this place is well preserved for the sake of posterity.
” The education I got here is out of this world and am happy that history is kept and our children can learn,” he said.
