Legendary singer and guitarist, Sir Victor Uwaifo has died at home today in Benin City.
He was 80 years.
Uwaifo, who released hits after hits in fast tempo highlife music was said to have died, after a brief illness.
One of his monikers was ‘Guitar Boy’, a name that stuck with him after a song with the same title.
Uwaifo, who served as Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism in Edo State of Nigeria between 2001 and 2003, was born on March 1, 1941, in Benin City.
He attended Western Boys High School in his hometown and later, St Gregory’s College, Lagos.
He subsequently proceeded to Yaba College of Technology, Lagos from where he obtained a National Art Diploma with distinction and shone as an outstanding athlete.
He received a BA Hons, First Class, Fine and Applied Arts from the University of Benin and a Masters’ Degree in Sculpting from the same university.
He also obtained a PhD in Architectural Sculpture from the same university where he has been a Professor for several years.
In March, he marked his 80th birthday, which was turned into a carnival of sorts, to celebrate his contributions not just to music, but also to creative arts.
Uwaifo had a Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) Degree (Honoris) from the University of Benin; the Benin National Merit Award; the University of Benin Distinguished Alumnus Award and the National Honour of Member of the Order of the Niger by the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
In 2010, Prof. Uwaifo was one of the select Nigerians awarded the fellowship of the Nigerian Academy of Letters at a grand event at the University of Lagos.
