REWIND: My music healed Nigerians of civil war wounds, says Victor Uwaifo

Victor Uwaifo, the late highlife singer better known as ‘Guitar Boy’, once revealed how his music helped to heal many Nigerians of the pains that trailed the civil war.

Nigeria experienced its first-ever civil war between 1967 and 1970 which reportedly led to the deaths of over two million people while many others were displaced.

Reflecting on his experience during the bloodshed in a 2019 interview with Arise TV, Uwaifo said the civil war took him and many other Nigerians by surprise.

The late music icon also revealed that the war started shortly after he left the southeast region for Lagos.

“I had never seen war before so at that time, it was strange. I was young then. So, when the Nigerian civil war broke out, it took everyone by surprise,” he said.

“I was in Lagos when the war happened. It started shortly after I left the southeast. The war broke out a day after I left the southeast. I was also the first to visit the east when it ended.”

When asked if his brand of music had influence on Nigerians who were bewildered by the civil war and political happenings at the time, he said: “Yes, like I said, music has no enemy, it’s also spiritual and if you’re in a sad mood, it would lift you up.”

Why I didn’t smoke, womanise despite fame

During the interview, the renowned sculptor and instrumentalist also said his disciplined personality made him eschew lifestyles common among artistes.

Uwaifo said he never smoked or engaged in womanising throughout his career.

“I have never smoked in my life. Not that I smoked and stopped, no. Cigarette has never touched my lips since I was born,” he added.

“I also don’t drink alcohol although now I can take red wine when I am eating. I build up, and do a lot of exercise. Don’t forget, I was in my school’s high jump team then and I set a record still unbroken till this day.

“An artist sees beauty in ugliness. But I didn’t go that far to go into women or smoking or drinking.”

The music maestro breathed his last on Saturday after reportedly battling a yet-to-be-identified illness.