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The Nigerian music industry has quite a number of veterans and one of them is guitar maestro, Sir Victor Uwaifo. At 73, with over 60 years of experience, Sir Uwaifo says he isn�t done yet and plans to release more albums. In this interview with NET, he calls himself the greatest Nigerian musician and shares the secret to his rare strength. Who would you say is the greatest Nigerian musician of all time? It�s me. I�m the greatest, no doubt about it. Sorry about that. Since I don�t sound like any other person it is still me. That is it. Why did you decide to work with the new generation of musicians? To marry the past and the present and to teach the young generation resilience and how to stay on the scene. I have been on the music scene for over 60 years and I can shape it the way I want. It is important to understand music because only then will musicians be able to mould and reinvent it but if you don�t and rely on computer, it will destroy you. The young ones should go and learn how to play musical instruments, as well as real rudiments of music. Everybody has a skill and talent, we just have to identify the talent. Are you saying having knowledge of musical instruments guarantees longevity in the industry? Of course. It�s like if I am sculpting; the art work doesn�t tell me how to do it, I tell it. What has the reception been like for the decision to work with younger artistes? People have been calling in from different places. It�s spreading fast and I�m not surprised because I have no limits. My philosophy is that my best is yet to come. Tell us about your relationship with Tuface I am signed onto his Hypertek music label. They knew the advantage of signing me, so it wasn�t one done with a handshake. I think Tuface is very intelligent and knows what it takes to be a star. Have you advised him to learn to play musical instruments? When we performed at the centenary celebration and he saw what I did with my guitar, he told me he was going to learn the guitar. He�s an exception. He is talented and he has skills and a good ear for music. What are your thoughts on the likes of Wizkid, Davido or D�banj who have been successful despite not knowing how to play any musical instrument? It�s a pity, but time will tell. I have spent 60 years in the industry, so when they stay 30 years, then I will congratulate them. Are you comfortable with the message being passed across by new musicians in Nigeria? In critical analysis of the arts, you cannot say something is really bad; you can only say it is either a success or a failure, but you cannot judge on the same basis. Do you think highlife music is being represented well nowadays? They are begging me to be a part of it. Most artistes are going back to remixing songs from the past because they know something good is there, and we encourage them to keep doing that. How true are the mysterious tales and myths around Sir Victor Uwaifo? The electrocution saga, for example. They are true. After my band and I returned from the Algiers Festival of Arts, we went on a national tour and during one of the shows in Warri was when the incident happened. Before it did, I observed that every time people �sprayed� coins and it touched my body, I get a shock. I confided in Sunny Okosun, who was a member of my band, so he kept an eye on me. When I was doing the Duduke song, it required that I jump and split. After I had done one of the splits, I remained on the floor but people thought I was still performing because I was jerking. It was at this time Okosun yanked the cable off, and when I got up people had fled. This was in 1969. We completed that tour and after I released a song, Imiefe (What God Has Done For Me). Tell us about your encounter with Mammy Water in Lagos That was also true. I was the head of the graphics department at that time. We used to close late and had to be on set to organise the back drop. Because of the traffic, I used to deliberately stay late and go to the bar beach to strum my guitar and get inspiration. That particular day, I stayed really late till everybody had gone.Then I observed that each time the waves advanced towards me I would move back, but the farther I moved, the closer it came. Suddenly, I observed a figure coming towards me and before I knew it, the figure was right before me. I wanted to run away. Then I screamed, which I later transposed into strumming the guitar. She just said, �if you see mammy water, never you run away�. I just thought the mermaid loved music, otherwise it would have harmed me. What was the reception for the song after the incident? It was an instant hit. It was after Joromi which gave Nigeria the first gold in Africa. You have performed for over 60 years. How do you still have the energy to do this music as you used to? I am 73 and I am still very fit. I squat 100 times and still do press ups. Let me add here that I once worked as a body builder and weight lifter. When I first came to Lagos, I enrolled at Geo Weighs gymnasium at Obalende, which was where I developed my love for exercise. I have been doing it every morning since 1960 Tell us how you got the title, Sir. I was the first to be given a national honour in the country, thirty one years ago. I was privileged to get it the same day it was bestowed upon late Obafemi Awolowo and Sir Anthony Enahoro.