SUPER MTN DEAL FOR SUPER SIR SHINA PETERS!

MTN! Shina Peters! 777 is the number! Perfect combo. Juju Music is back at the top, in life persistence, perseverance and prayers are sine qua non in all human endeavours.

Afro Juju Creator and Grand Master of Juju Music, Sir Shina Peters (SSP) has joined the prestigious list of Ambassadors of Nigeria’s leading telecommunication company, MTN.



Signs he has joined MTN played out yesterday in Ibadan where the telecommunications company rolled out several activation materials including billboards, POS, and flyers, TVC and radio with his pictures and one of his signature tunes, 777, a winning streak number from his album, Ace. The multi-million naira deal comes in full package.

When E24-7MAGAZINE contacted the hitmaker on Monday, he gleefully confirmed the development. “Yes, my brother, I have joined the big family in MTN, Nigeria’s biggest telecommunications network. It’s a great moment for me, my career and my fans. I appreciate the decision of MTN to get me on board and I have promised to add value to the brand, join hands with other young talents already on board and see how we can continue to grow the family and its teeming subscribers.

Sir Shina Peters is still regarded as the creator of a well-respected music genre, Afro Juju) that exists in its own class till this day and with many new generation artistes following his steps. SSP with several awards home and abroad, featured in international music festivals alonside great music acts has close to 20 albums to his credit.

Additional reports: LBW Lamzat Blog Worldwide

FELA PROMPTED AFROJUJU MUSIC - SHINA PETERS!

With fondest memories, some of us recall how Shina Peters stay glued to Femi Kuti during the burial ceremony of the greatest musician from Nigeria, Late Fela Anikulapo Kuti. The reason for this is not far fetched. Shina recalled that on one of his numerous visits to Fela, Fela called him aside and told him that for him to thirve and be successful in Juju music, he must chart a different course. With KSA, Ebenezer Obey, IK Dairo and Dele Abiodun Adawa Super reigning supreme, Fela admonished Shina to find a rhythm that would suit his voice and ensure he spices it with pidgin flavors! Hence, the birth of Afrojuju music with a
distinct and easy flow of enjoyable pidgin English laced with fast danceable beats! Enjoy the rest of the interview with Punchng below!
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In Lagos, everybody is supposed to know Sir Shina Peters’ residence. “You don’t know Shina Peters’ house?” One man asked our correspondent, in a semi-shocked tone. “Go to Iju, even a child will take you to Shina’s house,” he said.

Shina Peters’ name is a compass that leads to his house, which turned out to be a low rise architectural masterpiece with two white horses mounted on the roof. “The horses stand for ‘keep working’,” Peters explained.

Shina Peters of the Shinamania fame is the living legend, credited with the invention of a unique music genre known as afro juju. “I cannot claim credit for afro juju,” he quickly demurs. “God is the one who created afro juju. Shina was just an instrument in the hands of God to change the sound of the juju music and make it more appealing to music lovers,” he says.

When he was just eight, Peters told his parents that education was not for him. “I had two siblings and we lived in one room. The prospect of schooling was not that bright, so I opted to start my music career immediately. At that age, I was already the choir leader in our church and I played the organ and keyboard very well.

“At a point, I left my parents and became a houseboy to Chief Ebenezer Obey. I played his guitar whenever he was not at home. When Prince Adekunle had an accident in 1980, they were looking for a guitarist to replace him. They called for an audition and out of 36 people, they picked me,” he recounts.

The suggestion that he might have regretted his decision not to go to school sounds very ridiculous to Shina. He gives a reply in his trademark pidgin English. “No, wetin I wan take am do? if I wan employ professors and PhD holders today, I can afford to employ them. When people started laughing at Shina and saying he was making grammatical errors, Fela told them to keep quiet. He told them that as a doctor of music, he (Fela), sang in Pidgin English.”

Most people don’t know that Peters is a real knight, hence the ‘Sir’ before his name. “I went to London in 1970 and at an event organised by the United Nigerian Cultural Organisation in collaboration with the British Chamber of Commerce and Industry, I was made a knight. They were amazed at how well I could play the guitar at that tender age,” he says.

Just three years short of his 60th birthday, the robust -looking musician has a lot to be thankful for. “I can tell you that I am a very controversial person. After Fela, it is Shina Peters. People like brewing scandals with my name. From drug pushing to impregnating countless women, name them, I have been branded with them. Despite all the controversies, thank God that today, I am still relevant. I have eight grandchildren. My first child was born when I was 14,” he reveals.

The information about his grandchildren and his first child would have been a rich addition to the interview. One would want to know what happened, how many women were involved and what escapades led to his being a teenage father. But Peters closes up after dropping that brief hint and no amount of persuasion made him open up. “I don’t talk about my family,” he says, dismissing the topic. But not before briefly lauding his famous son and music producer, Clarence Peters. “Clarence is from heaven. He is a genius and I am really happy for him. Unfortunately, I don’t discuss my family,” he reiterates.

Asked what may be responsible for his youthful looks at the age of 57, Peters says, “Nothing special really. Food is not responsible for my looks because I don’t eat. But I swim like a fish. I can swim for 10 hours. One thing I miss as I grow older is my childhood. When my mates were playing with toys, I was on stage or at rehearsals. That is why I love children a lot. I praise children and women in most of my songs,” he says.

Before you think leisure and relaxation, the juju maestro tells you that time is a luxury for him. “I don’t have time for leisure,” he states. “There was a day I burst into tears. I had concert bookings from Nigeria to London, New York to Canada and Canada to China. I felt I was on a suicide mission. At the last moment, when I was about to board a flight to my destination, the flight was cancelled. I cried like a baby. I was sued N10m for breach of contract,” he recounts.

It is not the first time he would be sued for breach of contract. According to him, since the age of 10, he has been a regular client at the law courts for cases relating to his performance contract. He smiles as he tells the story. “I had a lot of cases of breach of contract. At the age of 10, I signed a 10-year contract with one recording company. When I grew older, I became wiser and realised that it was slavery. I was billed to appear in three court cases simultaneously. It got to a point that one judge would tell his colleague in another court to forgive me, that he was the one delaying me in his court. I would be eating amala and the phone would ring, the caller would tell me that I was wanted in court. It was when I joined a record label run by the late Chief Olubunmi Aboderin that most of my problems reduced. I also had people like M.K.O. Abiola and Olusola Saraki who were solidly behind me.”

The music veteran, has an advice for young generation musicians, that he calls his ‘hip hop sons’ “I would advise them to learn how to play one or two instruments. They should stop killing live music with all the digital things they are promoting. Live band is expensive to maintain but that is the only way to make people feel the music. Computer cannot be regulated, when you play with computer, you cannot order the tempo to go up or come down,” he states.

On style, he says humorously: “My belief is that first appearance counts. I hate to disappoint my fans. Dressing is something that comes naturally to me. If I were to be the president of this country, I will ask that people should melt raw gold and diamond and use it to design a jacket for me.”

Copyright PUNCH.

NEW MUSIC ALERT: SIR SHINA PETERS AND TIMAYA!

Super mesmerising synergy! Bound to shake and lift the bar again in the entertainment industry! Expect a frenzy from the industry after this alert! An eagerly awaited ginger and cross-over from Nigeria's concert choice and party delight, the legend himself, Super Sensational Sir Shina Peters and Timaya! Watch out. See more photos after the cut: You can't get it wrong with LBW!

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CLARENCE PETERS SPEAKS ON HIS DAD, SIR SHINA PETERS!

Peters

 I am grateful for the fact that he is a legend. I am also happy that I can say this is who my father is. I can also point to what he has achieved in the industry. 

Film-maker and music director, Clarence, is the son of afro juju creator, Sir Shina Peters. He talks about his father in this interview with GBENGA ADENIJI

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 How was growing up like with your father?

I didn’t grow up with my father; rather I grew up with my mother, Clarion Chukwura. Most of what I know about my father are what a lot of people know about him. I was born in Ibadan, Oyo State. I used to stay in Mammy Market area in Ibadan with my mother. Premier Hotel is located up a hill and my mother used to tell me when my father was performing there. I used to look at Premier Hotel like (Mount) Olympus. My relationship with my father started five years ago.

Were there times he tried taking you out?

We never had any such time. I started having a relationship with him five years ago. When one starts having a relationship with one’s father when one is older, one tends to understand a lot of things about him which one will not understand as a kid. I understand a lot of his mistakes; I relate with his mistakes and empathise with them. I understand where he was coming from. When we have discussions now, I understand the conversations more, which I am not sure I would have if I were still a kid. There were no picnics or walk-in-the park stories between my father and I, but there are many things to gain and learn from his wealth of experience as an artiste and a man. Our relationship is more on the standpoint of his wealth of knowledge in the arts and as an artiste. We have an artistic relationship.

Is that artistic relationship an influence on your career?

Yes and no because like I said earlier, our relationship started five years ago. A lot of the motivation to be in the arts came from my mother. She however did not tell me the path to tow. She left me to follow my dream. When I made up my mind and told her what I wanted to do, she exclaimed: ‘Thank God.’ She always told me that I am from a creative background. Initially, I didn’t want to do music. I never wanted to be involved in it. When I was young, I examined my father’s mistakes and flaws and decided I didn’t want to inherit any of them. I stayed away from piano lessons and other music-related things that could stimulate my interest. I know I love music and pictures. It was later that the passion came naturally. I had wanted to play football. However, football didn’t come naturally to me but film, music and pictures did. I am not sure I embraced entertainment because it is my father’s area. I didn’t grow with that. I think the influence grew from my mother’s encouragement in ensuring that I was constantly in a creative environment. Although it was impossible during the 80s and 90s to be in the arts and not be influenced by the music of Sir Shina Peters. In that regard, I can say his music also influenced me.

What do you mean by his mistakes?

I will direct you to interview him to tell you some of them. But let me tell you that my father is a man who lives life to the fullest. He has experienced life. If a man pushes himself to experience life, there is no way such a man will not make mistakes. This is because in order for one to make the experience complete, one will have to make mistakes and learn from them. It is even tougher when one is an artistic person. It is easy for an accountant to outline how he or she wants to live his or her life. He or she can say I will do my job well and live well. But a creative person cannot do such; he or she cannot write or paint what he doesn’t know. Even if such a person wants to fake the experience, he has to make his audience understand it. So, my father had a wide range of experience as an artiste and with it came mistakes which he learnt from. I also try to learn from them so that I don’t make such mistakes and if I make same mistakes, I will know how to deal with them.

Have you ever watched him perform?

Yes, I watched him perform when I was a kid. It was in Ibadan. I also watched his rehearsals at Premier Hotel.

What is his idea of punishing any erring child?

My father doesn’t know how to punish a child. He believes a child will die if he beats him or her. You also have to understand that he had a very rough childhood. So, the art of raising kids was not something he had the opportunity to learn. He was knighted by the Queen at a young age and he started singing so early. If one experiences such at a tender age, one will not lead a normal life. I think it is part of the sacrifices artistes sometimes make if they want to be great. People look at some artistes today and marvel at their achievements. But they don’t know the sacrifices they made especially those who are not from an influential background. If my father had a better chance and was dealt with better cards, he would have been a far better father in the conventional sense. But what he lacks in that area, he makes up for in being a better father in experience. A child cannot play some pranks and think my father will not know. Perhaps, some fathers will handle such a situation by beating the offending child but my father will probably not take it that way. He tells a child where he will end up if he treads certain paths.

What is his favourite meal?

I don’t think my father has preference for any kind of meal. For somebody like him who travels a lot, I don’t think he has a special meal.

Would you say his brand of music is still relevant?

Everybody believes most of what we do nowadays is afro beat whereas what we do is a fusion of juju. Analyse afrobeat and you will discover it is still normal jazz over African percussions. The evolution of juju is afro juju. Now, take afrobeat and play it pure, young people will get bored listening to it. But once it isfunkified, the funkified aspect of that genre is afro juju. My father knows why he called his juju afro juju while Fela named his music, afro beat.

He used to be an apprentice to Fela. He said when he was with Fela; he used to play the fast drum pattern ofDum dum tintin dum dum before Fela told him to slow it down. If the slow pattern is for Fela’s music, young people will listen to it because it is Fela and his music is spiritual. But if one wants people to move, the drum will be in a fast pattern. My father doesn’t even like playing afro juju. It is a fact. He is extremely grateful for what the genre has done for him. You need to see him play an acoustic guitar. Afro juju is not music to my father. He loves to play classical music. Afro juju only puts food on his table and pays his bills.

How do you feel being a son to him?

I have not really thought of it. I haven’t really given it a thought. I am grateful for the fact that he is a legend. I am also happy that I can say this is who my father is. I can also point to what he has achieved in the industry. But I don’t flaunt it.

How has his name opened doors for you?

I am one of those whose fathers’ good names have yet to open doors for. It is because I started my career from the scratch. I have been a personal assistant, sound engineer and music producer from the scratch to the top. In fact, the name gives me more challenge because both my parents are known in the entertainment industry. I think it is until I start moving to the generation my parents appeal to that their names will start opening doors for me. I think when my business starts moving to that kind of environment, my father’s name will start opening doors for me. I have not worked my way to that realm.

How does he relax?

My father enjoys being with his friends. In such mood, they drink beer. Like I said earlier, he knows how to live life.

What is his schedule like?

His schedule is always hectic. He likes calling himself a hustler.

How often did he visit you when you were studying in South Africa?

I think it is very important you ask him this question because he is the only one that has an answer to it.

Which of his songs do you like most and why?

I am mostly attracted to his choice of percussions and the melodies. I am enthralled by the way he does it. I think my father’s best performance for me was when I was in his house one day. There was no light and he was drinking a bottle of Gulder. He took his acoustic guitar and played for an hour. I know that he has not done his best work yet. Nigerians are ready for him to do his best work but he doesn’t believe they are ready for him. Those who know him will agree that he has not done his best work

Why do you think people identify his music more with women?

Any artiste whose songs don’t appeal more to the female folk cannot be a legend. It is same with the music of Michael Jackson. Women are the ones that connect quickest to music, so a singer needs to appeal first to them. Most men listen more to more aggressive music, music that puts them more in an energetic mood. My father studied the market well before releasing his songs.

What is his favourite car brand?

I know he likes strong cars. He is a brand person. If a brand is big and strong, he will go for it. He likes German cars. He has a great taste for fashion.

How close are you to him?

I am not the closest physically to my father but because of the arts; we share strong perspectives and connections that make us really close.

How did he handle misunderstanding with your mother?

You will need to ask them because I don’t want to put my hand in that area.

What is your view about the controversy generated by the grammatical blunder he once made which he later sang about?

My father is one of a kind but some people did not understand him then. On the grammatical error you talked about, he was then expressing himself the best way he could. A lot of people make grammatical blunders deliberately while some don’t. It is now something that is in vogue in music. So, I think he was ahead of his time then. He also sang about women in a way that many people got offended but it is done today in every single way.

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HOW GBENGA ADEYINKA SAVED RUGGEDMAN FROM COLOSSAL LOSS!

Take it or leave it, the Man, Gbenga Adeyinka, is gradually assuming the toga of a JP and not just a successful professional comedian, Gbenga is an expert in pouring oil on troubled waters! He has a natural knack in dousing burning fires and cooling frayed nerves. Gbenga is simply an enigmatic peace maker and a complete gentleman. Please continue reading how he saved Ruggedman from a million naira court debacle when he used Prince Adekunle's track without his permission.

Prince Adekunle is a veteran juju musician and the mentor of Shina Peters, Segun Adewale and Dayo Kujore, amongst others. Prince recalled that his son called his attention to his song, Awodi nfofere, olounfem’Oluwa, being remixed by Ruggedman.

“Though before he re-mixed the song he didn’t seek my permission, he came later with Gbenga Adeyinka and some other friends to plead and apologise,” Prince Adekunle said.

“Since I am not God, I told him that the matter is in court, I forgave him. He prostrated with those that came with him and profusely apologised. I prayed for him and the others. I was given N25,000.00 with clothes and food items.

Two weeks later, he bought a big generator for me. The full interview is detailed below!

With his trademark dark goggles, the iconic musician of late 60s to early 80s, General Prince Adekunle, reclines in a deep seat in his tastefully furnished living room at his residence. Now in his 70s, he cut the picture of what he was and now is – a retired successful musician now working in the vineyard of the Lord.

Still striking with a regal bearing, the leader of the Supersonic Sounds, a juju band, which once ruled the music waves like a colossus is aging gracefully and seems to be enjoying it. Born Josiah Adeyinka Adekunle, he is from the Oke Ona royal family of Abeokuta, Ogun State. As he sits, crosses and recrosses his legs, the maestro gazes into the past and brings back reminiscences.

Once in a while, he smiles. At times, his face squeezes in a frown as he struggles to contain his emotions as he tells his own story. Somewhere in the background flows the latest work of the now ordained pastor of The Word Bible Church, Ajelogo Mile 12. It is titled Adekunle @ 70. It was in commemoration of his turning 70 in 2012.

He celebrated his becoming a septuagenarian with the launching of the twotrack album. The first track of the album is Adekunle @ 70 while the second track is Ogbaraojoti O Fewoileola. The two track album is full gospel juju but blended with the old flavour which he is reputed for.

Prince Adekunle mentored great juju musicians like Sir Shina Peters, Segun Adewale and Dayo Kujore among others. But his mien hardly betrays the man that was so famous in the juju circle. You can hardly mention four to five popular juju musicians in those days without his name coming up.

As this sharp but soft-spoken man communes with this reporter, one can but only marvel at his peaceful mien which shows a man without affluence but contented with life.

The beginning

His musical career started as a drummer in the 50’s at Ogbe Methodist School, Abeokuta. He was a member of the School Choir as a drummer and vocalist. The skill was further honed at the Church of the Lord, Somolu headed by the popular Prophet S.L. Kogberegbe. He was a prominent member of the choir in the church as a drummer.

Then, he did not know that he was going to become a professional musician and that career would bring him fame. Prince Adekunle was born on October 22, 1942. He started struggling to wax records from 1965 and it was not until 1968 that fortune smiled on him. At that time, Ebenezer Obey (another popular juju musician) was making his first trip to London.

Prince Adekunle said: “He was like a mentor to me and he knew me, so I approached him for his musical instruments. I asked for his musical instruments because since he would be travelling in 1968, I was sure that he was going to buy new musical instruments from the UK. I implored him to give me the instruments he was using so as to boost my musical career.

He consented but for a few weeks before he was to leave for UK, there was a hiccup and he couldn’t travel as scheduled. At that time, I now waxed a record in his praise.

It was my first record and it was an instant hit, the title of the record is Give us this day our daily bread. People thought it was Obey that was singing, so they bought the record. When they found out it was Prince Adekunle, they didn’t mind because they enjoyed the rhythm and the strong lyrics of the music.”

When Obey came back from London, he fulfilled his pledge when he gave me musical instruments to boost my career. Prince Adekunle and Supersonic Sound started with his immediate sibling, now late- Kolapo Adekunle (who died on 12 March, 1985), Late Oluwole Yellow (died in early 2000), Late Adekoya Richard (died on 19 June, 1998), Shina Peters joined later. Speaking further, he said: “I had a Danfo which I used in packing musical instrument for my shows; I had a fatal accident with the bus at Bolade in Oshodi.

I was taken to London for treatment in 1971. It was after the accident that Shina Peters joined my band and that was late 1971. When I travelled for treatment, I met a promoter in UK-UNICO that arranged that I should come on playing tour of Europe in 1972.”

The accident of Prince Adekunle became a blessing in disguise as he met not only a promoter that assisted his band to make their first Europe tour, but the tour was largely a big success. During the tour, he waxed a record, London timowayi o ma dele, lola Oluwa mi ma dele layo o, that was released in 1972. Literarily translated as, “We are in London and by the special grace of God, we will arrive safely at our various homes in peace and joy”. We waxed the record while in the UK, but Ibukun OrisunIye, our record label and promoter in Nigeria released the record before our arrival in Nigeria.

That record as at that time sold hundreds of thousands. From that trip, I was able to buy a new car, new instrument and commenced the building of my house. Prince Adekunle spoke glowingly of that trip, “We toured Europe. We were well received and our fans base grew. I was able to buy new instrument, buy a new car and start the building of my house in Lagos.

I got invited for other playing tours in 1974 and 1976. When we arrived from that playing tour, a large crowd was at the then International Airport, now the Local Airport to welcome us back from our trip. The police had a tough time controlling the crowd of friends, family and fans that waited hours at the airport for our arrival.” Prince Adekunle became a General of Music in UK in 1974 when he was given

an award, General of Music, and Shina Peters was awarded, Sir. Prince Adekunle acknowledging voodoo in Juju and other local music of those days declared, “I am aware of the fact that a lot of musicians and other professionals visited herbalists, occultists and others they believed could help them to attain the height they longed for, but as for me, I’ve learnt in my younger days that such things do not work for me.

There were cases that I was goaded by my band boys into using fetish things, but it did not work for me. At times, they would tell me that I should have been greater than the way I was but because I refused to move like others.

At that time, I always remembered that contentment in the Lord is paramount. I am contented being a Christian. Godliness with contentment is a great gain.

Probably, I might have been dead if I had been deeply involved in fetish things and voodoo. My belief is that for those musicians that mounted the stage and died, it was the wish of the Lord.

Many at that time came with tales of how they spit blood and had other attacks and mishap, but I didn’t have any because I firmly believed and still believe in God and never visited any herbalist then and now.

I am not contending that such did not exist but I was brought up to believe in the power of prayer and that helped me a lot in my career.” On Shina Peters “I was taken to London for treatment in 1971. It was after the accident that Shina Peters joined my band and that was late 1971.

“Shina Peters is a talented musician, and he has been playing before he joined my band. He came to my band at the age of 12. Segun Adewale, Dayo Kujore, Arigidi and Sunday Benson joined the band in 1974,” Adekunle said. He noted that Shina is a gifted instrumentalist. Yet, a devastating blow was dealt to the band when Ibunkun OrisunIye, M. Ola Kazzim that was handling his sales, promotion and label lured 15 of his band members away.

Speaking further, he said, “My promoter, marketer and distributor, M. Ola Kazeem whose label my records were being waxed had a misunderstanding with me. I went to register my company so that I could have my label and do my recording at a later date. It was sort of a retirement plan, but he wasn’t pleased.

He thought that despite all he did for me when I had accident and his investment on me, I had the temerity and effrontery to want to break away from him, and so he lured 15 of my band members away with the promise to buy those that left instruments and cars.

Prominent among them are Shina Peters, Segun Adewale, Dayo Kujore, Arigidi and others. He bought Volkswagen Beetle for Shina, Segun and Arigidi and other cars for the rest of the band boys that left then.”

It was devastating and painful, but Prince Adekunle moved on to Sanu-Olu Records where he recorded six albums. Notable among them are Asatidode, adiye wonu ago lo, and a record for Pa S.B.J. Oshoffa. Yet, he was glad that the departure of Shina and others led to their fame in the industry.

“At a later date, Shina Peters and Se-gun Adewale left M. Ola Kazzim and they went to court, but the matter was resolved eventually. I wrote him about my royalty in 1997, and we mutually agreed on my benefits. He agreed to payment of my royalty on quarterly basis which he has been doing till date.

We have buried the hatchet and now work with each other harmoniously. Prince recalled that his son called his attention to his song, Awodi nfofere, olounfem’Oluwa, being remixed by Ruggedman.

“Though before he re-mixed the song he didn’t seek my permission, he came later with Gbenga Adeyinka and some other friends to plead and apologise,” Prince Adekunle said.

“Since I am not God, I told him that the matter is in court, I forgave him. He prostrated with those that came with him and profusely apologised. I prayed for him and the others. I was given N25,000.00 with clothes and food items.

Two weeks later, he bought a big generator for me.” How he became a man of God “In 1991, I attended a revival through the invitation of my sister in Ketu. At the revival, Pastor J.B. Kumoluyi was the minister. I sought for his audience after the revival message.

He prayed for me and I completely surrendered my life to Jesus Christ. Before I surrendered my life, things were extremely difficult, but changes happened immediately after. Shortly after, I travelled to USA to see my child.

Surprisingly, I was warmly welcomed by a lot of Nigerians and had to play at many occasions during my stay there. I came home with new musical instruments as well as about $15,000. My experience after giving my life to Christ has been a wonderful one.”

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