My encounter with Victor Uwaifo

I was in Benin for the NAFEST. I was showcasing my Play ‘EMOTAN’ written and Directed by my brother William Benson.

I flew into Benin that morning and my other brother, Eric Ateru, picked me up at the airport straight to the offices of the Honourable Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Diaspora Affairs, my big egbon Osaze Osemigwe Ero.

When we got to his office, he wasn’t there. I called him and he said he was with Sir Victor Uwaifo that I should come there.

I was elated. I would be meeting the maestro himself. The one that sang guitar boy and the Mami water song.

Erico got me there in minutes and we waited for the maestro to come out. He took his time, it had to be an appearance the Commissioner and The Duke where here and he had to ‘appear’.

While we waited, I surveyed my surroundings. The Airplane turned museum caught my attention. The many sculptures and the paintings all had me on a different cloud.

Then he appeared. He wore a powder blue suit and had slight make up on his face. He was bubbly and agile. Was in a good mood and talked expansively.

I was introduced as the man doing EMOTAN and I invited him to the play the following day.

We joked and talked and I asked him about Joromi. I told him I wanted to do a play on that song with him playing a cameo. I told him I would fly him into Lagos and put him on the best hotel and then he would mesmerize us on stage.

He laughed and pulled his Hair and said,’ u see this is my real hair. At my age I have full hair’.

He refused to take pictures with me initially but me, I use style take picture without his knowledge.

The next day, he invited the whole cast to his house and they all went to have fun. I couldn’t make it because I was running around looking for money and if you know Edo State very well, you will know that it’s easier for one to marry King Solomon and remain a Virgin than to get money out of Benin People.

The show at the Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre was marvelous. The First Lady Her Excellency Mrs Obaseki was in attendance with plenty members of the State Executive Council and Sir Victor Uwaifo with his very beautiful wife walked in.

He acknowledged the cheers and took his seat. He had promised to attend and we badly wanted him to attend as his presence would further strengthen our legitimacy.

After the show, I went to greet him and he reminded me that we had to finish our plans for Joromi in Lagos.

Sadly, he wouldn’t be on stage when we eventually drop Joromi but you can be sure that his spirit would hover over and above strumming his guitar to the rhythmic movements on stage.

That was a man, a Guitar boy.