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Revered highlife musician,Victor Olaiya has been buried in Lagos, nearly three months after his demise
The 89-year-old singer died on February 12, while on admission at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).
His remains were laid to rest on Thursday at the Vaults & Garden Cemetery in Ikoyi, amid a private ceremony attended by few friends and family members due to the COVID-19 epidemic.
The ceremony was also streamed live on Facebook with guests armed with their face masks while observing social distancing.It was also devoid of the usual Aso-Ebi that is synonymous with burials in Yoruba tradition.
Though the pallbearers spotted a uniformed outfit of black colour with a red rope on their neck, they had an inscription of Victor Olaiya on their clothing.
Born in December 1930 to Alfred and Bathsheba Olaiya, the late singer had come through as the 20th child of a family of 24, gaining recognition beyond Nigeria back in the 1950s and 60s.
During the Biafran War, Olaiya had been ranked a lieutenant colonel (honorary) in the Nigerian army and his band played for the troops at various locations.
“His place in history is guaranteed. He sang, not just for entertainment, but also taught critical lessons on life, good neighbourliness, and national cohesion,” President Muhammadu Buhari said.