Legendary Nigerian music superstar, Sir Victor Efosa Uwaifo, has died at the age of 80.
Born in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, Uwaifo is said to have died at home Saturday, August 28, after a brief illness.
His son who took to Facebook to share the sad news wrote: “Daddy whyyyyyyyyyy. Did you leave us now. Prof sir Victor UWAIFO has gone to rest. Black Saturday for me nooow. One week now after collaborating with me.”
The music icon was popular for tracks like “Joromi” and “Mami Water”. He was also a multi instrumentalist and a renowned virtual artist.
He was writer, sculptor, and musical instrument inventor, University lecturer, music legend, and the first Honorable Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism in Nigeria.
The music maestro was the winner of the first gold disc in Africa (Joromi) released in 1965 and seven other gold discs in Guitar boy, Arabade, Ekassa series and Akwete music. He recorded under the name Victor Uwaifo and His TItibitis.
Uwaifo was recognized as the most educated performing music legend, musical instrument inventor, and artist worldwide with a B.A Honors (first class valedictorian), Masters degree and Ph.D in Architectural Sculpture ((Thesis: A reinvention of Benin Royal Ancestral Pieces, University of Benin, Nigeria)
A holder of National Honors of Nigeria (MON), he served as Commissioner for Arts, Culture, and Tourism in Edo State from 2001 to 2003.