Victor Uwaifo, born 1st March, 1941, is a Nigerian musician, writer, sculptor, and musical instrument inventor. He also served as Commissioner for Arts and Culture in Edo State under the government of Lucky Igbinedion. Uwaifo is famous for his brand of music, which he calls Joromi.
His best-known songs, “Guitar Boy” and “Mami Water”, were huge hits in 1966.
Victor Efosa Uwaifo was born in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, and obtained his secondary school education at the Western Boys’ High School, Benin, and St Gregory’s College, Lagos, from 1957 to 1961. He began playing guitar when he was 12 years old, his earliest popular music influences being records of Spanish and Latin American music. He studied graphics at Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, and graduated in 1961. He received a bachelor’s degree, first-class honours and a Master’s degree from the University of Benin in 1994, where he studied Fine and Applied Arts and majored in Sculpture.
After leaving Benin, Victor Uwaifo continued playing music at St Gregory’s, Lagos. He was a contemporary of Segun Bucknor, and they were both among the leading Lagos high school bandleaders. After completing secondary school studies, he played with E.C. Arinze’s Highlife Band during late hours. The budding musician also worked with Stephen Osadebe and Fred Coker before he formed Melody Maestros in 1965. The band released “Joromi” which became a huge hit in Nigeria and other parts of West Africa.
Between 1965 and 1968, he developed the Akwete rhythm sound. In 1969, he launched a new beat called Shadow accompanied by a new dance also called shadow, a mixture of Akwete and twist. The sound was released when soul music was popular in Lagos and lasted a few years. After the launch of Shadow, the Melody Maestros went on tour of various Nigerian cities. Uwaifo later experimented with a new rhythm that was similar to soul but soon left it for Ekassa, an interpretation of a traditional Benin sound.
He made history in Nigeria when he won the first Golden record in Nigeria, West Africa and Africa (presented by Philips, West Africa) for his song “Joromi” in 1996.
Victor Uwaifo, who has a total of 12 golden records to date, has travelled to many countries, including the United States, Russia, Japan, United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Romania, Germany, France, Hungary, Rome, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, Benin Republic, Spain, and Canada.
The federal government of Nigeria, in appreciation of his talents and contributions to the country’s development, honoured him with a National Honors Merit in 1983.
Victor Uwaifo was the first professional musician in Nigeria to receive such an award. He is a Justice of the Peace and has served in many capacities. Uwaifo was also appointed as the Honorable Commissioner of Arts, Culture and Tourism and Member of the State Executive Council, the highest policy-making decision body in Edo State, 2001–03.
Appointed as Justice of Peace (JP) Public Notary and Lay Magistrate, Sir Victor Uwaifo was honored by four Nigerian Presidents. He was awarded the National Honors of Nigeria (MON). Victor Uwaifo had been invited to the State House by four Presidents and Head of States of Nigeria.
In 1995, Uwaifo was invited by the United Nations Staff Day International Committee to perform during the UN Golden Jubilee celebration. He is cited in the Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 1983 edition, documented in the “Who’s Who in Nigeria”, “Who’s Who in Africa”, “Who’s Who in the Commonwealth”, and “Men and Women of Distinction in the Commonwealth” sections. He is an Honorary Member of the Biographical Advisory Council, Cambridge, England, a member of both the Performing Right Society, and of the Advisory Board of American Heritage University, California, US. Last week, he was honoured as a Patron of African Music and Culture.
Sir Victor Uwaifo’s hobbies include swimming, bodybuilding, gaming, reading and writing. The legendary musician, who also lectures at the Department of Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Benin, Benin City, is married with children.
