In 1972, Nigeria’s influential national newspaper, Daily Times, carried a profile of Sir Shina Peters, then a rising musician still shaping the sound that would later revolutionise Yoruba popular music. The feature captured Peters at a formative stage of his career, long before he became synonymous with Afro-Jùjú and one of the most commercially successful bandleaders in Nigerian music history.
A Musician in Formation
Born Oluwashina Akanbi Peters on 30 May 1958 in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Shina Peters was already deeply immersed in music by the early 1970s. As a teenager, he had begun professional training under established bandleaders and was absorbing diverse influences ranging from traditional Jùjú to highlife, soul, and Afro-American rhythms. The Daily Times profile reflected this moment of apprenticeship and promise, presenting him as a talented young performer with ambition and discipline.
From Traditional Jùjú to Afro-Jùjú
At the time of the 1972 feature, Peters had not yet coined or popularised the term Afro-Jùjú, but the foundations were already visible. His exposure to Ebenezer Obey, King Sunny Adé, and later international funk and Afrobeat elements would eventually lead him to modernise Jùjú music. By the late 1980s, this evolution culminated in the explosive success of albums such as Ace (1989), which redefined dance music in Nigeria.
Media Recognition and Cultural Context
Being profiled by Daily Times in 1972 was significant. The newspaper was Nigeria’s most authoritative print medium at the time, known for documenting emerging figures in politics, culture, and the arts. Its attention signalled that Sir Shina Peters was already regarded as a musician to watch within Nigeria’s competitive live-band scene.
Historical Importance of the Feature
The Daily Times profile now serves as an important archival reference:
It documents Sir Shina Peters’ early career before national fame
It highlights the role of print media in shaping Nigeria’s music culture
It preserves a moment when Jùjú music was poised for transformation
Looking back, the 1972 article reads not merely as a profile, but as an early record of a figure who would later reshape Yoruba popular music and influence generations of Nigerian musicians.
Source:
Daily Times newspaper, 1972
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