Nigeria’s creative community mourns as Victor Olaiya dies at 89

BY OUR EDITOR

The death of highlife music legend Victor Abimbola Olaiya, simply known as Victor Olaiya, on Wednesday has effectively brought to a close an era in a class of music that is both original and indigenous to Nigeria.

Olaiya passed on at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). He was aged 89.

A statement released by the managing director of his recording company, Evergreen Music Company Limited, Bimbo Esho, said: “The entire music world wish to announce the death of a legend of highlife music – one of the last man standing, the last of the originals, Dr Victor Olaiya, OON.

“This untimely incident happened at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital around 12noon on Wednesday, February 12, 2020.”

Olaiya, famous for such hit songs and albums as Baby Jowo, Feso J’aiye, Ilu Le O and Taxi Driver, was a singer and trumpeter. He was born December 31, 1930, in Calabar, Cross River. However, his parents were from Ijesha-Iju in Ekiti State.

The news of his death spread like wide fire on radio, television and of course the internet, through the various social media platforms. In like manner, his songs rented the airwaves. So, also were reactions by fans.

Chairman of the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Chief Tony Okoroji, speaking on behalf of the multitude of COSON members said: “The passing of Olaiya is like the fall of a big Iroko and the end of an era. Olaiya was in every way one of Nigeria’s greatest musicians of all times who held on to his art decade after decade after decade.

“His influence on Nigerian music and musicians is immeasurable. His impact on entertainment in the country is unequalled. Yes, there will be other musicians over time, but there will not be another Victor Olaiya. Fare thee well great maestro.”

Another veteran of the music industry in Nigeria, Bongos Ikwue, famous for his rendition of the song track, Cock-crow at Dawn, lost his breath momentarily, on hearing the news.

“Oh! Dear brother! May your beautiful soul rest in peace… Dr Victor Olaiya, you lived an exemplary life, a scandal free life, a quiet and contented life: We will miss you here… May God give your family the fortitude to bear this loss, Amen… Sun re Ore,” Ikwue twitted.

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The one of the new generational artistes who had the good fortune of “sharing a microphone” and of course a single with the legendary Olaiya, Tu Face Idibia, said he was devastated upon hearing the news of Pa Olaiya’s exit from the stage.

Tu Face twitted: “Devastated by the news of the passing of Dr. Victor Olaiya – maestro, mentor, legend. Thanks for the beautiful music. Thanks for the inspiration. Blessed for the honour of sharing a mic and stage with you. Rest in peace Baba.”

Even politicians were not left behind. One of them, Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential candidate in the 2019 general election sent in his condolences to the family, saying, “his artful delivery on the trumpet and his hits from the 50s are moments we’d never forget. Most recently, the duet with @official2baba, was a musical bridge to travel. May his soul Rest in Peace.

For culture activist and former deputy editor of The Guardian, Ben Tomoloju, Olaiya’s death “is the winding up of an epoch.” Tomoloju counted other musicians in the genre who have passed on: Roy Chicago, Rhythm Dandies, Adeolu Akinsanya, Rex Jim Lawson, Eddy Okonta and Bobby Benson. He said this epoch might not be regenerated easily because, these artistes, “made a landmark in the consciousness of African music.”

From the academia, Prof Duro Oni, former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management Services), University of Lagos, described Olaiya’s death as a great loss to the creative arts. He said, “Olaiya promoted highlife music in Nigeria and across the world, wherever he played. He was a very successful musician and entrepreneur. He owned the very first hotel I stayed in Lagos, Stadium Hotel, in 1976. He successfully combined his music career and business, as he owned a nightclub. May his soul rest in peace and may the Lord grant his family the fortitude to bear the loss.”