Sir Shina Peters career and Igbo fan base
Legendary Afro-Juju musician Sir Shina Peters opened up in a recent interview about the early days of his music career and the surprising demographics of his audience. He revealed that he began his professional journey in music at the age of ten, playing in established bands and leading the choir in his church background. He described how being immersed in music from such a young age shaped his ambitious approach and deep love for his craft.
In the conversation, Sir Shina disclosed a surprising fact: according to his own surveys, approximately 65 percent of his fans come from the eastern region of Nigeria, whereas the remaining 35 percent are drawn from other ethnic backgrounds including the Yoruba and Hausa speaking parts of the country. He noted that while many expect his primary audience to be Yoruba—given his own background and the juju genre’s roots—his music has found its strongest following among the Igbo-speaking populace. This, he says, gives him a special joy and underscores the cross-cultural appeal of his work.
Sir Shina emphasised that this broad acceptance did not come by accident. He attributed it to his decision to fuse languages in his lyrics—primarily English and Pidgin—so as to carry along audiences from different ethnic and linguistic backgrounds. He credited his elder colleague Fela Anikulapo‑Kuti for advising him early in his career to use English or Pidgin to reach a wider audience beyond his immediate Yoruba domain.
He reflected on how, despite his early start and decades in the industry, he still maintains a youthful spirit on stage and remains driven by a love for music rather than commercial rewards. He explained that he “started his career at the age of ten years old, so what more?” when asked about his longevity. He also underscored that the large portion of his fanbase from the East is a testament to how his Afro-Juju sound transcends ethnic confines.
For upcoming musicians, Sir Shina’s message was clear: develop your craft out of passion, not solely for money or fame, and aim for universal appeal by adapting your lyrics and style in ways that can bridge cultural and language divides.
