Dr. Victor Olaiya - Bonsue / Abinu Eni (Audio)

Victor Olaiya: The Evil Genius of Highlife (RIP)
By Adeola Balogun

Dr. Victor Olaiya qualifies to be called a legend, thanks to his music career. His highlife genre of music made great impact in the past, it is currently rocking the present, with promises of a greater hold on the future. At 76, the celebrated highlife maestro still pulls the crowd at his periodic live performances.

He reveals in this interview with ADEOLA BALOGUN the secret behind his staying power. He also recalls his memorable experiences over the years, especially how one of his tracks landed him in police trouble.

At 76, you still look agile and very strong. What is the secret?

The secret is Gods grace. God first, and then dedication to duty. I try to exercise a lot while playing on stage. Music, as much as it is my profession, is also a hobby. While on stage, I do a number of exercises and showmanship. I twist myself, go up, down, blow the horns, thus exercising the lungs and the limbs and all parts of my body, including the brain. I believe that has been keeping me going.

We dont hear much of highlife nowadays, whats the problem?

I think that is a matter of opinion because every music in Nigeria borrows one thing or the other from highlife. Name it: Fuji, Juju, Afro juju, Afro anything; they all take one or two things from highlife. The view that highlife stuff does not seem to dominate the music scene is a matter of opinion as well because, if you get to where Dr. Victor Olaiya performs at the Papingo Night Club of the ultra-modern Stadium Hotel every Saturday night from 11pm till sunrise the following day, it is highlife galore. But you see, Fuji and others seem to be dominating the social scene because they can be played on the streets, in fact just anywhere. But we in highlife have prestige and we try to protect that; and because of this, we dont cheapen our type of music by just playing it anywhere.

Read rest of interview at:

http://sites.google.com/site/wrldsrv/...

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