The Nigerian music industry has produced some of Africa's greatest musicians of all times. One of which is prolific Afro-Juju maestro, Sir Shina Peters. When it comes to music, Nigeria has a rather selected group of genres that are predominant in most parts of the country. While rock, pop, and house music dominate the European and American music industries, Juju, Afrobeats, and its fusion, Afro-Juju are the baseline for any enjoyable song in Nigeria. Afro-Juju became very popular in the early 1990s with Sir Shina Peters becoming one of the most recognized advocates of the genre.
Up until today, Sir Shina Peters has continued to remain relevant after having created such a huge legacy for himself doing Afro-Juju. A celebrated man, Sir Shina's love and passion for music can more or less be described as an innate desire he was soon to develop on and consequently, master. His style of music offered a powerful fusion of juju, Afro-Beat, and intense Fuji-style percussion, leaving behind ecstatic fans every time he was done performing.
Biography of Sir Shina Peters
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Oluwashina Akanbi Peters |
| Date of Birth | May 30, 1958 |
| Parents | Victoria Asake Peters & Emmanuel Adakun Peters |
| Genres | Afro-Juju, Juju, Afrobeat |
| Notable Works | Ace (Afro-Juju Series 1), Shinamania |
| Children | 3 |
Born on May 30, 1958, as Oluwashina Akanbi Peters to Victoria Asake Peters and Emmanuel Adakun Peters, growing up for the music legend came with its challenges. With two siblings and their parents living in a one-room apartment, things weren't exactly rosy for them and the prospects of having a proper education were not high. At the young age of 8, Sir Shina Peters told his parents that education was not for him. He decided to pursue his music career which at that time was already growing with him being the church choir leader who played the keyboard and organ well.
His love for music grew stronger as he grew older. Fascinated by the melodious art, Sir Shina created his own music band which he called Olushina and His Twelve Fantastic Brothers. While in this band, he soon learned how to play the piano all by himself and shortly after, his luck began to change for the better.
A Journey into Music
On his journey towards building his music career, he left his parents and became a houseboy to Chief Ebenezer Obey. Whenever Ebenezer was not around, he would play his guitar. A spot to shine soon opened as the guitarist in Ebenezer's band, Prince Adekunle, had an accident in 1980. In the audition that had 36 people hoping to be picked, Sir Peters was selected.
He soon became an integral part of the band and would later leave to join General Prince Adekunle's band as a guitar player. Adekunle's band played in Lagos hotels such as Western Hotel, Palm Beach Hotel, and Executive Hotel. When Adekunle was ill, Peters sometimes acted as lead singer. The band, which was famous at this time, received numerous requests, one of which led them to travel to the UK. It was there that Sir Shina Peters, at the young age of 12, was bestowed a knighthood.
Contrary to popular belief that the knightly title was self-acclaimed, Sir Shina Peters is actually a knight. At an event organized by the United Nigerian Cultural Organisation in collaboration with the British Chamber of Commerce and Industry, he was made a knight. In one of his interviews, he revealed that the reason for the title bestowed on him was because they were amazed at how well he could play the guitar at such a tender age.
The Rise of Afro-Juju
This would be the first of many trips he made abroad. However, being the first time he ever left the shores of Nigeria, his mother was extremely proud of him, and from the photo, you can see a crowd eager to take a photo with a young Sir Peters.
Sir Shina Peters proved to be a man of determination as he was soon to leave General Adekunle's band to form a band with Juju Maestro Segun Adewale. However, the duo enjoyed a short music union as they soon split. Shina Peters, after releasing many albums with Segun Adewale throughout the 1980s, went on to form his own band, Sir Shina Peters & His International Stars.
The band soon released the first album, Ace (Afro-Juju Series 1), and it turned out to be a record breaker pushing Sir Shina Peters into the limelight. The album, which is a musical fusion between Juju and Afrobeat, went double platinum. Things only seemed to get better from there. He soon followed with his second album titled Shinamania, and that too received massive love from his fans. This album only proved that Sir Shina and his band were definitely revolutionizing the Juju Music scene in Africa.
A Legacy of Excellence
With a bubbling career and songs that connected with many people, accolades soon began to pour in. He has received numerous awards and recognition for his exceptional prowess in the art of writing, composition, choreography, and musical ability.
Now married with 3 children, coupled with millions of his albums sold across the continents, Sir Shina Peters is still one of the most recognized and relevant musicians to ever grace the Nigerian music scene. His journey continues to inspire many aspiring musicians in Nigeria and beyond.
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Source: Legit.ng
