Victor Uwaifo
Biography
Professor Victor Uwaifo, born March 1 1941 in Benin City, Edo State, is a multi-talented Nigerian musician, sculptor, and visual artist who made an indelible mark on Nigerian popular music with his fusion of Highlife with traditional Edo, Urhobo, and Yoruba musical forms. He formed his band the Titibitis in the 1960s and created a distinctive guitar-led sound rooted in the folklore and mythology of the Edo people of southern Nigeria. His breakthrough single Joromi (1969) became one of the most celebrated Nigerian recordings of all time, drawing on the legend of a mystical forest deity and featuring an instantly recognisable guitar riff that became iconic across West Africa. The song earned Uwaifo his first gold record, making him one of the first Nigerian artists to achieve that milestone. He followed it with equally celebrated tracks including Guitar Boy (1967) and Ekassa (1972). He toured internationally and performed at the legendary 1977 FESTAC World Black and African Festival in Lagos. Beyond music, Uwaifo earned a doctorate in fine arts and became a professor of visual arts at the University of Benin. He was named a Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) by the Nigerian government and received the Highlife Legend Award from the African Music Awards. He remains active as both a performer and artist, continuing to create music and sculpture well into his eighties. His career represents a unique intersection of high artistic achievement across multiple creative disciplines.
