Shina Peters is a Nigerian Juju musician commonly known as the founder of Afro-Juju style from juju music in the 1980s.
Afro-Juju is a musical style that mixes fast percussive beat with the use of electronic keyboards, Saxophone and Guitar. Officially known as Oluwashina Akanbi Peters, Shina Peters was born on May 30, 1958, in Ogun State, Nigeria.
Shina Peters’ music career can be traced back to his youthful days when he used to play with friends under the group Olushina and his Twelve Fantastic Brothers. This is where he learnt, by himself, how to play the Piano before joining Ebenezer Obey’s Band. He would later leave the band and join General Prince Adekunle band as a guitar player but would occasionally act as a lead singer when Adekunle was sick.He formed Shina Adewale band with Juju maestro Segun Adewale after leaving General Prince Adekunle band, under which they released several albums in the 1980s. The band did not last long as the two split with Shina Peters forming ‘Sir Shina Peters & His International Stars’.
A breakthrough for Shina Peters came in 1989 after he released his debut album ‘Ace’ (Afro-Juju Series 1) under the group Sir Shina Peters & His International Stars.
The album, a fusion of Juju and Afrobeat went double platinum, that is, it sold over 2 million copies. The ‘Ace’ album also helped Shina Peters to win several awards among the artist and album of the Year at the Nigerian Musical Awards.
Shina Peters second album was titled ‘Shinamania’ released in 1990 and had singles such as ‘Oluwa Yo Pese’, ‘Omo Bo’ and ‘Give Our Women Chance’. In total, Sir Shina Peters has 16 albums to his name.
Some of the popular songs released by Shina Peters include; Afro Juju, ACE, Ijo Shina, Shinamania, Sewele, Yabis, Omo Enia Lo Sora, Je Kajo, Irawo Lagba, Omoge Rewa, Atoto Arere, Late Aboderin and Loke Loke.
Shina Peters married Sammie Ayoka Peters in 1983. The couple was blessed with two children; Clinton Peters and Seyi Peters. Shina Peters also has a third child, Clarence Peters, a popular Nigerian video producer, whom he got with Anambra State-born actress, Clarion Chukwura in the 80s.Shina Peters parents are Emmanuel Adakun Peters (father) and Victoria Asake Peters (Mother)
Apart from music, Shina Peters was also an actor. He appeared in ‘Money Power’, a movie produced by Ola Balogun where he met and started a relationship with the actress Clarion Chukwura who has his son, Clarence Peters. His role in the movie industry earned him a City People Movie Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014.
In 2019, Shina Peters’ contribution to the music industry was also recognized with City People Music Special Recognition Award.
We at Celebration Galore wish Sir Shina Peters many happy returns of the day.
(2021)
