Victor Uwaifo could play the guitar with his teeth, behind his head and with one hand. In 1969, he also had one of the biggest hits in Nigeria: “Joromi”.
Uwaifo was born in Benin City in 1941. He grew up with Edo music and folklore, and was drawn to the guitar as a boy. He moved to Lagos, played with highlife bands, and formed his own group, the Melody Maestros.
Joromi
“Joromi”, released in 1969, was based on the legend of a warrior of that name in Edo folklore. The song combined highlife with Edo rhythms and Uwaifo’s distinctive guitar sound, creating a style he called akwete and later ekassa. It became one of the best-selling records in Nigeria at the time and spread across West Africa.
The showman
Uwaifo was known for his stage performances. He played multiple instruments, including double-neck guitars, and performed tricks such as playing with his teeth. Audiences loved his energy, his costumes and his humour.
Other hits
His other popular songs included “Guitar Boy”, “Mammy Water” and “Ekassa” numbers. His music drew on Edo stories of spirits, water deities and heroes, and he recorded dozens of albums over a career of more than five decades.
Artist and academic
Uwaifo was also a sculptor and visual artist, with a gallery in Benin City. He earned degrees in fine arts and became a lecturer at the University of Benin. He was one of the rare musicians of his generation to combine a successful pop career with academic work.
Public service
He served as Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism in Edo State. He received national honours and was widely respected as a cultural ambassador for the Edo people.
Death
Uwaifo died in Benin City in August 2021, aged 80. Tributes described him as a legend of Nigerian music and a pioneer of Edo popular culture.
Legacy
Uwaifo’s blend of highlife and Edo folklore influenced later Nigerian musicians. “Joromi” is still played at parties and cultural events, and its guitar riff is instantly recognisable to older Nigerians.
Listening
Start with “Joromi” and “Guitar Boy”. Recordings from the late 1960s and 1970s show his guitar at its most inventive.
He was a guitarist, sculptor, professor and commissioner. To most Nigerians, he will always be the man behind “Joromi”.
