Highlife Legend Victor Olaiya Is Dead

Veteran highlife singer Victor Olaiya has died at the age of 89 at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

His death was confirmed in a statement by Bimbo Esho, Managing Director of Evergreen Music Company Limited the record label that holds his music repertoire.

The Death of the Doyen of Highlife music in Nigeria

I commiserate with The entire music world on the death of a Legend of Highlife music one of the last man standing, the last of the original Dr Victor Abimbola Olaiya OON.. This incident happened at Luth hospital Lagos State at exactly 12noon today Wednesday 12th of February, 2020.. We pray that the Doyen of highlife music find repose with the creator while wishing the family and entire music community the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss. Dr Victor Abimbola Olaiya was 89 years of age on December 31st, 2019.

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.

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, Tina Mate, among others.

The highlife legend featured Innocent Idibia called Tubaba in the remix of Baby Mi Jowo in 2013.

Olaiya formed his band, the Cool Cats in 1954 but later renamed it the All-Star.

May his soul rest in peace.