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

Victor Olaiya: The Evil Genius of Highlife
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/blog-additions-1/victor-olaiya-the-evil-...

Category:

Music

Tags:

• victor
• olaiya
• highlife
• juju
• naija
• nigeria
• yoruba
• lagos
• eko
• bonsue

[1ishara]

@planetolusola may the Lord's or Allah's blessings be endowed upon you for all the pleasures you supply us with! Once more a big Thank you

[planetolusola]

@1ishara Thanks for the kind words. May the Lord bless us all.

[adeyemiao]

planetolusola, whoever u ar u ar a genius , I lov u with all my heart , by the way ar u on fb , i need to add u

[planetolusola]

@adeyemiao Thanks for your kind word. Not on FB. Too old fashion for social networks.

[sapolostic]

Super, Planetolusola you have done it again. This is a masterstroke, genius. Thanks

[planetolusola]

@sapolostic My pleasure.

[HotWBalls]

AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH­HHHHHHHHHHHH!! I'm rocking myself wildly this very minute in New York Walahi! Bobo Bobo Bobo Bosuwe!

No shakin for ever!

[sambaboy77]

As a bass player..i played this song in London with a cultural group at the mile end theather east London!!! in the eighties!!! Austin

[ojekings]

KEEP IT COMING YHKS

[rumous2k]

to whosoever put this song up here 4 our personal fulfilment/consumption, i can only mutter a few words along the lines of may the Almighty God blesss u, it surely brings back memories of what is often referred 2 as the good old days, as said be4 thanks a million.

[bellemskey]

Haaaa.... Again and again!!! What can i say? These tracks are classics... I've replayed it almost ten times now... Haaa.... All hit tracks.... Bonsue to you Planetolusola