Legendary Afro-Juju musician, Sir Shina Peters, has revealed that he once pretended to be mentally unstable to rebuild his image and gain public sympathy after his controversial split from his mentor, Prince Adekunle.
The veteran singer made the shocking revelation during his appearance on The Honest Bunch Podcast, where he discussed his early career struggles and the challenges that came with breaking away from a popular band at the height of his rise to fame.
According to the “Ace” crooner, his departure from Prince Adekunle’s band was heavily criticised by fans and industry insiders, many of whom accused him of being ungrateful and leaving his mentor purely for financial gain.
“People protested against me when I left Prince Adekunle’s band because they believed I left my father figure for money,” Peters recalled. “Then the owner of my record label and some media heads came up with an idea to help me regain public sympathy.”
He said his management team and some media partners suggested an unusual plan to make him appear mentally unstable so that people would stop criticising him.
“They asked me to braid my hair for three days without loosening it,” he said. “Then I wore torn clothes, and they took me to Oyingbo Market to buy ewedu while recording everything. I didn’t even know what they were up to at first.”
The music icon explained that the staged act continued in Badagry, where he was filmed acting erratically and eating in public at a construction site managed by Julius Berger.
“They told me to act like a madman and eat in public. All of that was done to change people’s narratives and earn empathy from fans,” he added.
Shina Peters said the bizarre publicity stunt eventually worked in his favour. The public, who had previously condemned him, began to see him in a new light and sympathised with his situation. The wave of compassion helped him relaunch his solo career successfully.
“It was all part of a calculated plan,” he admitted. “In the end, it worked because people stopped calling me names. They saw me as someone who was struggling and misunderstood.”
The revelation has sparked reactions on social media, with many Nigerians expressing surprise at the lengths entertainers went to manage public perception in the pre-internet era.
Sir Shina Peters’ split from Prince Adekunle marked a major turning point in his career. Having started as a young guitarist in Adekunle’s band, Peters gained experience that would later shape his unique Afro-Juju sound — a fusion of Afrobeat, highlife, and juju rhythms.
After parting ways with Adekunle, he formed his own group, Shina Peters and His International Stars, but struggled initially to gain acceptance due to the public backlash.
His big break came in 1989 with the release of Ace (Afro Juju Series 1), which became a national sensation. The album revolutionised Nigerian music, introducing a faster, danceable style of juju music that appealed to both young and old audiences.
Songs like Ijo Shina and Lobito Disco turned him into a household name, and the album earned him several awards and the title “Sir Shina Peters.” His follow-up album, Shinamania, further cemented his status as one of Nigeria’s greatest music icons of the 1990s.
Now in his 60s, Sir Shina Peters remains one of Nigeria’s most respected musicians. He continues to perform at major events and has mentored many young artists. His story offers insight into how public image and perception played a crucial role in the careers of entertainers long before the age of social media.
Reflecting on his past, Peters said he has no regrets about the unusual approach he took.
“Everything that happened made me stronger,” he said. “Sometimes, you need to take bold steps to survive in the entertainment industry. People may not understand it, but it’s all part of the journey.”
