Dr Victor Olaiya also known as THE EVIL GENIUS OF HIGHLIFE passed on to glory yesterday after a brief illness.
Dr Olaiya married many wives. He had children and grandchildren. One of his daughters, Moji Olaiya, was a Nollywood actress. He sang with his son Bayode Olaiya.

He was a Nigerian highlife trumpeter who served generations with his stunning music sounds especially with his hit song BABY JOWO which he went on to record a remix to the song in 2013 ft Nigeria Legendary artist 2BABA.

He lived a fulfilled life and has touched the hearts of many Today’s generation Artists. In his early years he got his University admission into Howard University U.S to study civil engineering but when on to pursue his musical career by joining bands like THE SAMMY AKPABOT BAND & THE OLD LAGOS CITY ORCHESTRA and later in 1954 he formed his own band COOL CATS playing popular highlife music.

During the Nigeria Civil War of 1967 – 1970 he was ranked a lieutenant colonel (honorary) in the Nigeria army. He played for the Nigeria troops at various locations. The cool cats later travelled to The Congo to play for the United Nations troops.

Dr Olaiya’s music was a border between the Ghanaian highlife and what we would later know as Afrobeat. He had legends like FELA KUTI and drummer TONY ALLEN in his band and they both had success in their individual music careers.
He was for a certain period of time The President of the Nigerian Union Of Musicians. He was into importation of musical instruments through out the western part of Africa and he established the Stadium Hotel at Surulere.

Dr Olaiya partnered with Ghanaian music star E.T. MENSAH and released the album Highlife Giants of Africa in 1983 and later went on to release one of his most popular albums PAPINGO DAVALAYA in the year 1986. He was a very successful music Artist and the world is surely going to miss his wonderful sounds.
REST IN PEACE SIR

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