Updated: Life and times of veteran highlife musician, Victor Uwaifo, who died at 80 – Newstrends
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Updated: Life and times of veteran highlife musician, Victor Uwaifo, who died at 80

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The Nigeria’s entertainment industry has been thrown into mourning as legendary musician, Sir Victor Uwaifo, has died.

His nephew, Uwaifo Peter The Rock, broke the news on his verified Facebook page Saturday evening.

Uwaifo Jnr, who is a gospel artiste and multi-instrumentalist, wrote: “Daddy whyyyyyyyyyy (?) Did you leave us now?

“Prof Sir Victor UWAIFO has gone to rest. Black Saturday for me now. One week now after collaborating with me.”

But he did not disclose the cause of his death.

The late singer featured in a track titled “Hallelujah” off his son’s upcoming album about a week ago.

The ‘Guitar boy’ as he was fondly called celebrated his 80th birthday in March.

He was also the first professional musician to be awarded with the National Merit Honours of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON).

Uwaifor the first Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism in Nigeria.

 

Born in Benin City, Edo State, Victor Efosa Uwaifo started music at an early age. Indeed, he began playing guitar when he was 12 years old. His earliest music influences surprisingly were records of Spanish and Latin American music.

Sir Victor was not only good in music, he was also a brilliant student when it came to academics too.

After attending Western Boys’ High School Benin and St Gregory’s College, Lagos, from 1957 to 1961, he made First Class in the university. He also had a master’s degree from the University of Benin

He had studied Graphics at Yaba College of Technology, Lagos and graduated in 1961–63 before proceeding to the University of Benin in 1994, where he studied Fine and Applied Arts and majored in Sculpture.

Uwaifo jammed with Olaiya’s All Stars band during his secondary school days. After completing his studies, he played with E.C. Arinze’s highlife during late hours.

He also briefly worked with Stephen Osadebe and Fred Coker before forming Melody Maestros in 1965. The band released Joromi which became a hit in Nigeria and other parts of West Africa. It has continued to enjoy airplay till date.

Uwaifo made history in Nigeria when he won the first Golden record in Nigeria and Africa for his hit song “Joromi” in 1996.

He developed the Akwete rhythm sound between 1965 and 1968. In 1969, he launched another beat called Shadow which was accompanied its own dance; 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, his band, Melody Maestros went on tour of various Nigerian cities.

Uwaifo had 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.

In 1995, Uwaifo was invited by the United Nations Staff Day International Committee to perform during the UN Golden Jubilee celebration.

He had a total of 12 golden records to his credit.

Additional reports from Wikipedia and Nigeria Summary

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Drake loses $565k after betting on Tyson Fury against Usyk

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Aubrey ‘Drake’ Graham

Drake loses $565k after betting on Tyson Fury against Usyk

Multi-Grammy-winning Canadian rapper Aubrey ‘Drake’ Graham has lost $565,000 after betting on Tyson Fury to beat Oleksandr Usyk.

It is yet another big-money gambling loss for the ‘First Person Shooter’ crooner.

Before the fight, Drake revealed on Instagram that he had gambled $565,000 on Fury to win.

If Fury had won, he would have collected just over $1million.

Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury in a split decision to become the undisputed Heavyweight champion of the world.

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The fight was the first undisputed heavyweight fight in nearly 25 years in Saudi Arabia.

Two judges scored the fight in Usyk’s favour- 115-113 and 114-113 with the other giving it to Fury at 114-113.

The knockdown of Fury in the ninth round proved decisive. He is now a two-weight undisputed world champion.

In round nine, Fury was completely out off his feet and stumbled around the ring a Usyk went in search of the finishing shot.

The referee then called a knockdown, giving Fury a standing count with the Gypsy King slumped in the corner.

Usyk has now added Fury’s WBC title to his own WBA, IBF and WBO belts.

Drake previously lost a six-figure sum after Anthony Joshua’s knockout win over Francis Ngannou, and another $700,000 after Dricus Du Plessis beat Sean Strickland at UFC 297.

Drake loses $565k after betting on Tyson Fury against Usyk

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Portable out with new song after leaving police custody

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Portable out with new song after leaving police custody

Controversial singer, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, wasted no time in getting back to his music career after his recent release from police custody.

The artist shared a snippet of his upcoming song, titled “Spiderman,” just hours after being released.

The “Zazuu” hitmaker, who gained attention for his viral video evading arrest by scaling over a gate, responded to his recent troubles with a diss track. Portable’s arrest stemmed from his failure to adhere to the payment plan for his G-Wagon SUV.

In the wake of the incident, Portable’s creativity took flight as he channeled his experiences into his music. The teaser for “Spiderman” hints at a song that embodies his resilient spirit and ability to overcome obstacles, echoing the theme of his escapade captured in the viral video.

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Portable’s swift return to the studio and release of new music demonstrate his dedication to his craft and his ability to turn adversity into artistic inspiration.

As fans eagerly anticipate the full release of “Spiderman,” Portable continues to make waves in the music industry with his unique style and unwavering determination.

Newstrends reported that Portable regained his freedom after meeting the bail conditions set for his release.

His recent arrest is not the first of Portable’s encounters with the authorities.

Recall that in March 2023, the Ogun State Police Command arrested the famous singer for cursing and manhandling some men of the Nigeria Police Force in two video clips that went viral.

Newstrends also reported that Portable was invited by the police during the probe but refused to honour the invitation thereby propelling the police to issue a 72-hour ultimatum and after which, he got arrested.

Portable out with new song after leaving police custody

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What autopsy revealed on cause of Mohbad’s death – Pathologist

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Ilerioluwa Aloba nicknamed Mohbad

What autopsy revealed on cause of Mohbad’s death – Pathologist

The pathologist hired to investigate the death of late singer Ilerioluwa Aloba nicknamed Mohbad informed the coroner’s inquest that the cause of death could not be determined.

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Wahab Shittu, who was in court for the continuation of the inquest today, May 15, informed newsmen that the pathologist in his submission in court stated that by the time the test was carried out, the singer’s body had already decomposed.

Speaking to newsmen after the sitting, Wahab said

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‘’According to him, the cause of death cannot be determined. He gave a lot of reasons. He said by the time they conducted the test, the body had decomposed and that it is not possible for them to determine the cause of death. So the summary he is saying is that the cause of death cannot be ascertained and when you say the cause of death cannot be ascertained, it means it is suspicious, it is not clear, no particular reason. He also went further to say that it may be attributed to reaction to certain drugs administered on him before he died. Again he then qualified that to say he does not know whether it is those drugs that actually led to his death.”

Wahab also mentioned that facts such as the late singer’s disagreement with his wife, Wunmi, as well as Sam Larry were also presented in court by a witness.

Recall that the 27-year-old singer died in controversial circumstances on September 12, 2023. He was buried the next day in Ikorodu. His body was however exhumed on September 21 for an autopsy to be carried out on it to determine the cause of his death.

What autopsy revealed on cause of Mohbad’s death – Pathologist

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