Shina Peters, the veteran Afro-Juju legend, has revealed how he faked madness to regain public sympathy and attention.
He discussed the incident during an interview on The Honest Bunch Podcast.
After leaving Prince Adekunle’s band, Peters faced harsh criticism from fans who accused him of betraying his mentor for money.
To repair his image, his team devised a controversial publicity stunt and suggested he appear mentally unstable to evoke compassion from the public.
Peters said they asked him to braid his hair for three days without loosening it.
He then wore torn clothes to complete the look.
Next, his team took him to Oyingbo Market to buy ewedu while secretly recording the scene.
He, however, admitted he had no idea what they planned at the time, but the strategy eventually changed how the public viewed him and revived his reputation.
The 67-year-old musician also offered insight into how rapidly his life advanced and why he’s hesitant to record new music now.
From humble beginnings, Peters said his career kicked off at the age of 10. He added that by 13, he had purchased his first car; by just 14, he became a father; and by 16, he had built his first house.
“I started my career at the age of 10. I had my first child at 14. I bought my first car at 13. I built my first house at 16,” he recounted.
Despite these early successes, Sir Shina revealed he has no immediate plans to return to the studio. He explained that the current music climate doesn’t align with his creative mindset:
“About 65 per cent of my fans are Igbos, not Yorubas. They keep asking for new music, but I can’t just go to the studio anymore. The atmosphere is not conducive for me. I don’t even know what to sing.”
Originating from Lagos in 1958, Sir Shina Peters pioneered the Afro-juju genre, a fusion of traditional juju music with Afrobeat and funk rhythms. His breakthrough albums in the 1980s and 1990s, such as Ace and Shina Peters Live, secured his legacy as a defining figure in Nigerian music.
Reflecting on his largely Igbo fanbase rather than one rooted in the Yoruba community he belongs to, Peters noted how deeply his music crossed regional lines, something he views as both remarkable and humbling.
While he acknowledged the demand for fresh tracks continues to grow, he emphasised that genuine inspiration can’t be forced. Instead of chasing chart trends, he appears content preserving his legacy and letting his earlier work speak for itself.
