CLASSICS.

Sir Victor Uwaifo, a most illustrious, worthy, accomplished and living musical legend of the music industry in Nigeria; a music composer, producer and quintessential performer, a pacesetter in different spheres of life, an inventor, a winner of numerous awards, both nationally and internationally, a multi-talented artist, a painter and a sculptor, a poet, philosopher, architect, scholar and an ambassador plenipotentiary of culture of Cross River State, a pioneer commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism in Edo State, a multi-generational compliant musician, a lecturer, a great visionary, a member of the Order of the Niger (MON) and Justice of Peace; an athlete who can still do outside and inside press-up with vigour and rhythmic consistency that can challenge 20 - 30 year olds; a man whose athletic build, vitality and fluidity on stage are breath taking and captivating; a great achiever and accomplished son of the Land of the cradle of black civilization – Benin; of Nigeria and indeed Africa.

Prof. (Sir) Victor Uwaifo was born on the 1st of March, 1941 in Benin City in the Old Western Nigeria which metamorphosed into Midwest State and to Bendel State and now Edo State of Nigeria, Benin City. His entrance into the world, although no trumpets were sounded, marked the birth of a boy whose name was later to become synonymous with artistic ingenuity and an epitome of creativity and versatility in the performing arts. Today, all musical instruments are virtually the play joys of this great icon of the music industry in Nigeria.

Sir Victor Uwaifo (the 'Sir' is apocryphal) is a Nigerian musician, writer, sculptor, and musical instrument inventor, born in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria in 1941. He is famous for his Joromi music.

His best-known song, "Guitar Boy and Mamiwater" was a huge hit in 1966. It was inspired by an encounter (which he has long maintained actually occurred) with a mami water (mermaid) while lounging on Bar Beach in Lagos.

What makes Sir Victor Uwaifo outstanding amongst his peers is not just his musical skills but the fact that he is a renowned academician. His love for academics earned him a lot of achievements. Sir Victor Uwaifo was the best overall graduating student and read the valedictory speech on behalf of the rest graduating students in the faculty.
He made a distinction in (Commercial Arts) Graphics and won Lintas West Africa Scholarship offer as the best student in 1962 at Yaba College of Technology, Lagos.

The maestro, poet, inventor, philosopher, architect, scholar and sculptor was appointed as the pioneering Honorable Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism in Edo State and thus became the first performing artist(e) to serve as member of the State Executive Council in Nigeria 2000-2003. During his tenure, he developed a tourism blue print for Edo State and initiated a number of projects like Igun Street World Heritage site and the enhancement and functional of the Cultural Complex.

Sir Victor Uwaifo is a multi-talented, skilled, creative and innovative individual. It is therefore not surprising that Sir Victor Uwaifo has been exposed to different spheres of professional engagements. It is instructive to note that while Sir Victor Uwaifo was engaged in various jobs, his love, minus his wife, remained music and hence he continued to wax records while he continued to perform nationally and internationally.

He has not just been a player musician; he has been an innovator in the filed. The maestro plays the guitar with his fingers which is normal but also with his toes, his jaw, his teeth, from behind his neck and back which are unusual, then he turns the guitar 360 degrees suspending it in the air with amazing speed faster than sound which is a phenomenon. His agility, athleticism during performance remains mesmerizing, breadth taking, captivating, awe-inspiring and simply scintillating.

As to be expected, this golden fish has not had any hiding place, thus he has been the recipient of both national and international awards and recognitions. Sir Victor Uwaifo was awarded the certificate of Honor by the House of Representatives, Boston Massachusetts, in the United States of America, 1997; He is documented in the Groove Dictionary of Music and Musicians Vol 8 and the only artist so recognized from Nigeria in that edition; He is documented in the Men and Women of Distinction in the Commonwealth 1983; He has been a member of the Performing Rights Society of London, since 1967. It is on record that he is the first African to win a Record Gold Disc in 1966. Other special awards that have been garnered by Sir Victor Uwaifo include, Resourcefulness Productivity Merit Award 1996, Fellowship of the Institute of Independent Marketing Management of Nigeria 1996; Rotary International Award for Services to Humanity 2002- 2003; Association of Nigerian Authors and Publishers Award 1994, The Benin National Merit Award 2007; University of Benin Distinguished Alumnus Award 2002; Member Order of the Niger of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a Justice of Peace.

This multifarious artist, genius and living legend, gifted with esoteric knowledge, long standing experience, devout Christian, enjoys reading, studying nature, body building and swimming. A consummate sportsman, he holds the First School High Jump record set in 1958 which has remained unbroken in Nigeria till date.

It is this rare breed in the artistic world, a sculptor, a musician, an artist scholar, a pace setter, an inventor, a performer of unprecedented dexterity, the author of the Ekassa, Sasakossa genre of music, a cultural ambassador of Nigeria, an illustrious son of the great Benin Empire, an author, an international music maestro, a man whose recorded repertoire of music can play non-stop for one month uninterrupted, the charismatic, charming, ever young looking; the guitar boy, a man of stoic disciplined and focused compartment, a man of amiable and convivial disposition, , a visiting professor, Doctor of Philosophy (D. Litt), a fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters and a  Living Legend of Timeless Legacy, Professor, Victor Uwaifo.

Tayo Ankra