BEVERLY HILLS, May 30, (THEWILL) – 30 years after his electrifying album, ACE Afro-Juju Series 1, swept through the Nigerian music scene, Sir Shina Peters is still a force to reckon with in the music industry. The father of three, who clocks 62 today, speaks with IVORY UKONU about his music and some of the things that has kept him going.
Your last album was released in 2012. Why haven’t you done any more music since then?
In terms of putting new song(s) out, I haven’t released anything new for a while. As a seasoned musician and a veteran, I just don’t put out music. My releases are masterpieces that stand the test of time. I take my time on my compositions, arrangements, productions, etc, so as to deliver material that would outlive me. Afro-Juju sound or music is not a rush-in and rush-out of studio kind of music. A lot goes into releasing Afro Juju sounds from conception to production. I also take so much time to produce seasoned music for my fans that will not fall below the set standard, globally.
What have you been up to between then and now?
I have been busy with a series of engagements, doing regular gigs, shows, performances and tours at the national and international levels. I have also had some corporate engagements, in terms of endorsements and ambassadorial roles, for some notable corporations. So you see, I have been really busy, except in 2020, the COVID-19 era that we all had to be on forced Sabbatical leave
Are you working on anything for your teeming fans?
There is a lot that I am cooking at the moment. Like they say in today’s parlance, Too Much Swag still dey. E never finish from the source. Just waiting for the right time to release some of these new stuff for public consumption.
You created Afro juju and made it popular. How did you come about that name?
By the grace of God, I created Afro Juju through divine inspiration and hard work. I have been doing music from age 10, playing with legends like Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey, Prince Adekunle and Shina Adewale till I went solo. So since age 10, I have become a known personality – a celebrity of sort. I bought my first car at age 13. I got famous as a toddler with national attention and going on international tours, etc. I started my music and didn’t get the huge commercial success I desired. I got tired of the norm in the music scene at the time. It would be right to say I was immersed in music. So, leaving or quitting music would have been a difficult thing for me to do. I craved something different. I desperately wanted to change things. So I went to seek the face of God. After this came divine inspiration as the answer to my prayers. Afro Juju is a mixture of different musical forms, such as disco (the hip western sound the youth are crazy about ), highlife, juju, the solemn rhythmic percussion of African percussion and some influence from Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, who loved my guitar skills and encouraged me to sing in Pidgin English as a medium of reaching a wider audience across languages and tribes. So when I blended these different African sounds with disco, the result was the irresistible ballistic and supersonic sound called Afro juju.
Before Ace, you had released five albums which didn’t register much success. But Ace opened the door of success to you. Did you ever imagine that it would be very successful?
What happened to me before Ace was just a sense of frustration for something different from the usual. I craved a monumental success that would outlive me. It was a desperate desire for a positive and drastic change. For the humongous and monumental success that Ace recorded, I give all glory to God. It is still a bestselling album, a concert mover and party shaker, an ever mysterious musical work that demystifies time and is ever current. You should also note that Ace, which was released in 1989, was a musical revolution in the Nigerian (and by extension the African) music scene that redefined and refined the way music recordings and live performances were done. It was the first commercial music video. It broke barriers across ethnic/tribes, language and religious barriers, just name it. I played gigs across every city and state in the country. I performed for about 340 days of the 365 days in the year. Internationally, I had shows across all the continents of the world. Frankly speaking, I never envisaged that height of success. It could only have been God.
With the fame that came with ACE, many people, including women, wanted to associate with you and you had your fair share of fun. Looking back, would you say you managed your fame well, especially with women? Do you think you could have done better?
Even with the creation of the first man, Adam, the Bible tells us it is not good for man to live alone. So the Almighty God made the woman, Eve. That is why I always use my music to support and encourage women. I can’t wait to see women dominate the corridors of power in our country because 90 per cent of mothers will make sure that their children make it in life. I have given my support to the female gender and they in turn have supported my music passionately. I usually pride myself as a foremost artist who has championed the cause of celebrating womanhood with my music, advocating women liberation and empowerment. From the album Shinamania – the track Give our Women Chance, I have always supported women.
Do you have any regrets in life?
I don’t have any regret whatsoever. I believe I am created for a purpose, which is to impact my generation. I believe in destiny and that I serve God faithfully. He is my inspiration and provider. I don’t get desperate for material achievement. I am 100 per cent dependent on God for my existence and sustenance.
What are some of the challenges you encountered in your musical journey and how were you able to overcome them?
There is no easy road to success. Success comes with a price. Getting to the top is even child’s play, compared to maintaining relevance and consolidating on the successful achievements at the top. There are hurdles, predicaments in life on any adventure or endeavour on the road to success. Some of the basic nuggets to help you overcome challenges and remain successful are:
A) Faith in God
B) Focus on your Goal
C) Harwork. – Resilience
D) Doggedness – never giving up
E) Passion for what you do
What would you say significantly shaped you to become who you are today?
My faith in God, hard work and discipline.
How would you assess the music industry today, compared to your time?
Technology has changed a lot of things in the industry. It is the digital age and everything has gone digital. Recording now is being done digitally unlike in our days of analogue recording where you have series of rehearsals before a live recording sessions and where all instruments are played live. The analogue system gave room to hard-work, creativity and mastery of the act. With today’s digital world, with the help of softwares like the auto-tune, anyone, trained or not, can sing and it will come out cool. The promotion of musical works is also easier now with the advent of social media for marketing and publicity. In our days, the artiste would hit the roads to embark on promotional tours across the different media outfits in different cities across the world. Digital innovation has been a blessing to the new players in the industry. There is more value paid and higher commercial exchanges for services in the industry. Unfortunately, there is a lot more noise than music out there. There is a lot, in terms of sound, but less creative content. But I believe there is room for the betterment of what exists presently. Younger artistes should seek advice, direction and guidance from the older ones to help them with better quality music.
While a lot of the youths are making in inroads into pop and afrobeat music, the same cannot be said about Juju music. What do you think the problem is and how can this genre of music be salvaged?
Remember Shina Peters is a pioneer advocate for youth empowerment. From the album Ace ……….. Asiko awa youth re o, ko ur binu wa, for sure ni, the young shall grow. I am one of the pioneer musicians who laid the foundation for the wave, rave, the bling and swag that the youths are exploring today. The youths are still building on the fusion of Afro Juju mixed with hip hop. Like I mentioned earlier, my fusion of African sounds plus disco created Afro Juju. The young ones still play a lot of Afro Juju laced and influenced music, though not labeled. In some ways, they borrow from highlife, Juju and other genres and they are all tagged Afrobeat. Take for example, Paul Play did a cover of his dad’s music, the legendary I K Dairo Mo so rire. It became a pop hit. Simi did Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey’s Aimasiko. But those renditions sitting basically and firmly on juju music won’t have an appeal if credited to Juju music. So you see, Juju music is still vibrant and alive. Most parties, weddings, birthdays, etc, heavily patronise Afro Juju, Juju, Fuji genre of if music. These are seasoned professionals who would bring the parties alive and engage the attendees, not these DJ track 1, track 2 kind of DJs.
Which of the younger music artists would you like to do a collaboration with and why?
I am for the youth anytime any day. I am available to work with any of the younger artistes that is serious and focused enough.
Many were surprised when they learnt that you were ordained a Bishop in the Cherubim and Seraphim church. Is this because they never thought you were a religious person?
I am grateful to God and the church of the Lord (Cherubim and Seraphim) for counting me worthy of the ordination. I have served and held on to the Lord from day one. It shouldn’t come as a surprise. Even in all my albums, I dedicate tracks to worship and extol God Almighty. He is my only source and foundation. I am nothing without him.
Does this mean you can now stand on the pulpit and preach?
Yes, you are right. The ordination means more service to my God in the vineyard of the Lord.
Are you planning to establish your own church?
No. I wasn’t ordained for personal gain or ambition. It is not because I want to start a ministry or church. It is a call to service by the body of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church.
Now that you are a Bishop, won’t there be a conflict of interest in making secular music?
No, there is no conflict whatsoever. Music is my profession, my work, my vocation. Ordination as a Bishop is a call to serve in the Lord’s vineyard. For instance, you are a journalist. That is your work and your profession. You being ordained in ministry or church, if you aren’t a full time minister will not conflict with your work as a journalist.
Does that mean you are not a full-time minister?
Yes
What has been your greatest achievement in life?
Being a blessing to humanity through my music. There are people who are sad, depressed and going through all sorts of situations. By some act of God, Shina Peters’ music comes on and they get blessed, they have hope, they have a reason to live. I love to be a blessing to humanity.
How do you unwind when you are not working?
I spend quality time with my family. I love to swim and I love to fast and seek God’s face for direction and sustenance.
of ‘Crack ya ribs,’ his annual comedy concert across the country and disclosed his plan to celebrate 25 years in comedy. Unfortunately, that dream didn’t see the light of day.
In 2019, the veteran comedian also attempted to stage his comedy show in London, but the date clashed with that of the king of comedy in Nigeria, Atunyota Alleluya Akpobome, a.k.a Ali Baba. Both shows had been scheduled for the same day and they had to jostle for the attention of the same audience. After that episode, nothing was heard about the humour merchant again. Findings, however, reveal that Agwu has not only quit the comedy scene, but also the social media. All his social media handles were last updated about a year ago. According to a reliable source close to the comedian, Agwu is hale and hearty and still in the country, contrary to the rumour that he has relocated abroad. The comedian, the source claimed, is just obeying his doctor’s instruction to avoid stress by all means. That is why he is shunning social activities and concentrating on other areas of interest just to keep body and soul together. We gathered that one of his dreams is to stage a campaign for Christian entertainers in the country, a decision he made after turning a new leaf when he recovered from the ailment that almost claimed his life.
Ivory Ukonu is a versatile journalist with many years of experience, with entertainment and society reporting as her area of core competence.
