Victor Uwaifo
Encyclopedia
Sir Victor Uwaifo is a Nigeria
n 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 wata (mermaid
) while lounging on Bar Beach in Lagos
. He also served as commissioner for arts and culture in Edo State
under the government of Lucky Igbinedion
.
, Lagos and graduated with distinction in 1961–1963. He received a bachelor's degree
first class honors and a master's degree from the University of Benin
in 1994, where he studied fine and applied arts and majored in sculpture.
's Highlife
band.
Uwaifo 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 traveled to many countries, including the United States, Russia, Japan, United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Romania, Germany, France, Hungary, Rome, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Togo, Benin Republic and others.
" ... whereas you have been nominated and appointed as Member of the Order of the Niger to have and hold and enjoy the privileges of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of the said Order, MON."
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, 2001–2003.
Appointed as Justice of Peace (JP) Public Notary and Lay Magistrate, Sir Victor Uwaifo was honored by four Nigerian Presidents:
, 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, U.S.A..
. He runs and manages an art gallery and the Victor Uwaifo Hall of Fame.
He also is a lecturer at the Department of Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Benin, Benin City.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n musician, writer, sculptor, and musical instrument inventor, born in Benin City
Benin City
Benin City, is a city and the capital of Edo State in southern Nigeria. It is a city approximately twenty-five miles north of the Benin River. It is situated 200 miles by road east of Lagos...
, Edo State, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
in 1941. He is famous for his joromi
Joromi
Joromi is a fashion term from Ghana and West Africa. It can mean:* the style of an embroidered blouse or jerkin * a style of high-life music popularised by Sir Victor Uwaifo...
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 wata (mermaid
Mermaid
A mermaid is a mythological aquatic creature with a female human head, arms, and torso and the tail of a fish. A male version of a mermaid is known as a "merman" and in general both males and females are known as "merfolk"...
) while lounging on Bar Beach in Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
. He also served as commissioner for arts and culture in Edo State
Edo State
Edo State is an inland state in central southern Nigeria. Its capital is Benin City. It is bounded in the north and east by Kogi State, in the south by Delta State and in the west by Ondo State.-History:...
under the government of Lucky Igbinedion
Lucky Igbinedion
Lucky Nosakhare Igbinedion was the governor of Edo State in Nigeria from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007. He is a member of the ruling People's Democratic Party .-Background:Lucky Nosakhare Igbinedion was born on 13 May 1957....
.
Education
Uwaifo obtained his secondary school education at the Western Boys' High School Benin and St. Gregory's College Lagos, in the years 1957–1961. He studied graphics at Yaba College of TechnologyYaba College of Technology
Yaba College of Technology, founded in 1947, is Nigeria's first higher educational institution. It is located in Yaba, Lagos. The college is a center of culture and heritage...
, Lagos and graduated with distinction in 1961–1963. He received a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
first class honors and a master's degree from the University of Benin
University of Benin
There are several institutions called the University of Benin in West Africa:*The National University of Benin, in Cotonou, Benin*The University of Benin in Benin City, Nigeria*The University of Benin in Lomé, Togo, now known as the University of Lomé...
in 1994, where he studied fine and applied arts and majored in sculpture.
Musical career
Early in his career, Victor Uwaifo was a member of Bobby BensonBobby Benson
Bobby Benson was an entertainer and musician who had considerable influence on the Nigerian music scene, introducing big band and Caribbean idioms to the Highlife style of popular West African music.-Life:...
's Highlife
Highlife
Highlife is a musical genre that originated in Ghana in the 1900s and spread to Sierra Leone, Nigeria and other West African countries by 1920...
band.
Uwaifo made history in Nigeria when he won the first Golden record
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
in Nigeria, West Africa and Africa (presented by Philips
Philips
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , more commonly known as Philips, is a multinational Dutch electronics company....
, West Africa) for his song "Joromi" in 1996. Victor Uwaifo, who has a total of 12 golden records to date, has traveled to many countries, including the United States, Russia, Japan, United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Romania, Germany, France, Hungary, Rome, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Togo, Benin Republic and others.
Joromi
His song Joromi has legendary status among his fans and his performances are characterized by his ability to play the guitar with both his feet and also his tongue.National Recognition
The Federal Government of Nigeria, in appreciation of his talents and contributions to Nigeria honored him with a National Honors Merit in 1983, which reads in part" ... whereas you have been nominated and appointed as Member of the Order of the Niger to have and hold and enjoy the privileges of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of the said Order, MON."
Uwaifo was the first professional musician in Nigeria to receive such an award. He is a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
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, 2001–2003.
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)
- He was invited to the State House by four Presidents and Head of States of NigeriaNigeriaNigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
International recognition
In 1995, he was invited by the United Nations Staff Day International Committee to perform during the UN Golden Jubilee celebration. Uwaifo is cited in the Grove Dictionary of Music and MusiciansGrove Dictionary of Music and Musicians
The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians is an encyclopedic dictionary of music and musicians. Along with the German-language Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart, it is the largest single reference work on Western music. The dictionary has gone through several editions since the 19th century...
, 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
Performing Right Society
PRS for Music is a UK copyright collection society undertaking collective rights management for musical works. PRS for Music was formed in 1997 as the MCPS-PRS Alliance, bringing together two collection societies: the Mechanical-Copyright Protection Society and Performing Right Society...
, and of the Advisory Board of American Heritage University, California, U.S.A..
Business enterprises
Uwaifo is the Chairman of Joromi Organization, a multi-track recording and television studio in Benin CityBenin City
Benin City, is a city and the capital of Edo State in southern Nigeria. It is a city approximately twenty-five miles north of the Benin River. It is situated 200 miles by road east of Lagos...
. He runs and manages an art gallery and the Victor Uwaifo Hall of Fame.
Personal life
Uwaifo's hobbies include swimming, bodybuilding, gaming, reading, writing, and bringing up other people's children. He is a Christian, and married with children.He also is a lecturer at the Department of Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Benin, Benin City.