Victor Olaiya: ‘Mo fe Muyan’ Highlife Legend Dies at 89

Nigeria’s highlife music legend and trumpeter, Sir Victor Olaiya has died at age 89.

The national merit award winner (OON) who clocked 89 years on December 31, 2019 passed away at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

Although no official cause of the veteran musician’s death was released, his record label, Evergreen Music Company confirmed Olaiya‘s passing which occurred Wednesday afternoon.

Its Managing Director Bimbo Esho said in a statement: “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 original Dr Victor Abimbola Olaiya OON.

“We pray that the soul of the Doyen of highlife music find repose with his creator while wishing the family and entire music community the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss.”

Papingo Dalaya, as the highlife maestro is called, was born on the 31st of December, 1930 in Calabar, Cross River State but hails from Ijesha-Ishu, Ekiti State.

Olaiya, whose music has continued to attract both old and young artistes was extremely famous in Nigeria during the 1950s and early 1960s and received recognition outside his native country.

Described as “The Evil Genius of Highlife” by Alhaji Alade Odunewu of the Daily Times, Olaiya‘s music bridges between Ghanaian highlife and what became Afrobeats.

His musical style was influenced by James Brown, with horn parts harmonised in Brown‘s style, as opposed to the mostly unison lines of Afrobeat.

Olaiya released an album with Ghanaian highlife musician E.T Mensa. Both the drummer Tony Allen and vocalist Fela Kuti played with Olaiya and went on to achieve individual success. Olaiya formed his band, the Cool Cats in 1954 but later renamed it the All-Star.

The iconic trumpet player, who held sway in the mid 50’s gained widespread fame for his hit “Baby Jowo” with 2face Idibia.

In July 2013, Victor Olaiya released the music video remix of “Baby Jowo” (Baby Mi Da) featuring 2face idibia and was received with much acclaim.

He retired from his long music career in 2017 and had some hit tracks like Omopupa, Aigana, Pambotoriboto, Opataritius, Mo fe Muyan, Jemila, Kosowo l’ode, Odale Ore, So fun mi, Omolanke and Tina Mate, among others.

Watch Victor Olaiya‘s video remix of “Baby Jowo” (Baby Mi Da) featuring 2face idibia below.