…Says Ekassa King Was His Moral Coach, showbiz Mentor.
Former showbiz promoter under the auspices of Latimore Solid Productions, Chief Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, is in deep mourning and pained by the demise of music legend and great sculptor, Prof Sir Victor Efosa Uwaifo, MON, who died in Benin City on Saturday August 28, at the age of 80 years.
Oghenesivbe in a condolence message made available to newsmen in Asaba, on Sunday August 29, disclosed that the late Uwaifo, was his moral coach and showbiz mentor during his days and years as entertainment journalist and showbiz promoter.
He noted that the Poguenta Sasakosa King was very careful in choosing his friends, and that he was fortunate and privileged to seat under Uwaifo’s tutelage, enjoyed special rides with the music superstar in his state of the art machines and prides on wheels.
He went down memory lane to capture the special moments he had with the “Guitar Boy” exponent, saying that Uwaifo on several occasions had lunch and dinner with him, entertained him specially with piano, flute and guitar; a rare privilege granted to few individuals in the early 80s when he was consistently on top of music charts across the globe.
Oghenesivbe, who is now a lawyer, media consultant, politician and Executive Assistant on Communications to Delta State Governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, further disclosed that Sir Uwaifo, attended several of his shows as a promoter, particularly mega sales promotion shows he did for Nigerian Breweries, Sparkling Brewery, and other live shows featuring stars like Felix Liberty, Osita Osadebey, Sir Warrior, Oriz Wiliki, Isaac Black, Tony Grey, Bright Chimezie, and other notable stars in the 80s.
“Sir Uwaifo was a genius, multi-instrumentalist, inventor, great songwriter, role model and practically popularised Edo music ballads, and took same to the global stage, won gold discs for his creativity and uncommon stagecraft.
“Sir Victor Uwaifo is perhaps the only musician in Africa recognised at the global music stage for his originality, awesome dance creativity and multifaceted talents, including great accomplishments as a professor of visual arts and renowned sculptor of international repute.
“I met Sir Uwaifo in my early years as a showbiz promoter and entertainment Journalist, and we bonded for several years before I left Benin City for Lagos in 1994. He was my moral teacher and encouraged me to always aim high and pursue my goals with everything within me.
“Ekassa King once told me that as you are aiming higher in life, your enemies and detractors will multiply, but you must never look at the faces of your detractors, otherwise you will loose focus on your goals. He had several pleasure rides with me and we attended some shows together.
“Sir Uwaifo like eating well spiced Kpanla “Stockfish” and we had much of it together. He occasionally entertained me with special numbers from his hit albums. He was a disciplinarian and a hard worker.
“He fell in love with my style of writing as an entertainment journalist and show business stakeholder. Our friendship blossomed for nearly four decades, and now he is no more, but his legacies lives until the second coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
“Adieu, Ekassa King, my Prof, my moral coach, and my godfather; rest peacefully in the bossom of our Lord.” oghenesivbe prayed.
