Veteran highlife singer Victor Olaiya has died at the age of 89 at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).
His death was confirmed to DailyGist by Michael Odiong of Premiere Music, the record label that holds his music repertoire.
Bimbo Esho, Managing Director of Evergreen Music Company Ltd, also made the announcement in a statement on Wednesday.
According to Michael Odiong, the Baby Jowo crooner died around noon on Wednesday.
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 Jowo in 2013.
Olaiya formed his band, the Cool Cats in 1954 but later renamed it the All-Star.
He is a multi-award winner including the national merit award winner (OON)
May the soul of the Doyen of Highlife music finds repose with his creator while wishing the family and entire music community the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss
