Elizabeth O.
Buhari said the late Uwaifo left a legacy of successes in many areas of life, including education and administration.
The music icon, whose hit tracks include Joromi and Mammy Water, was a multi-instrumentalist and renowned virtual artist.
One of his children, Peter ‘de Rock’ Uwaifo, broke the news of the demise of the professor of visual arts on his Facebook page on Saturday evening.
Though Peter did not disclose the cause of his father’s death, he expressed grief at the passing of the music star. He wrote, “Daddy, why did you leave us now? Prof Sir Victor Uwaifo has gone to rest. Black Saturday for me now. One week after collaborating with me.”
A statement by the president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, was titled, ‘President Buhari mourns legendary music artiste, Sir Victor Uwaifo’.
It read in part, “The President joins the Nigerian music industry and performing artistes, home and abroad, in mourning the first Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism (Edo State), who was also the first musician and instrumentalist to be given a national honours merit, Member of the Order of the Niger, in 1983.
The President believes the renowned musician, with global appeal and recognitions, lived for many firsts, which include an invitation to the State House by four presidents and heads of state, and winner of a gold disc in Africa for his song, ‘Joromi’, released in 1965 at the age of 24.”
