Veteran Afro-Juju legend Sir Shina Peters has disclosed the unusual strategy that helped redeem his public image following his controversial exit from Prince Adekunle’s band.
Speaking on The Honest Bunch Podcast, the “Ace” crooner recounted how his decision to leave Adekunle’s band sparked intense criticism, with many accusing him of betraying his mentor for financial gain.
According to him, the backlash was so severe that his team devised a shocking publicity stunt, one that involved portraying him as mentally unstable in public to gain public sympathy.
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“People protested against me when I left Prince Adekunle’s band because they believed I left my father figure for money. Then the owner of my record label and some media heads came up with an idea,” he said.
“They asked me to braid my hair for three days without loosening it, then I wore torn clothes. After that, they took me to Oyingbo Market to buy ewedu while recording everything. I didn’t even know what they were up to.”
Sir Shina Peters revealed that the act didn’t stop there. His team later staged another scene in Badagry, where he was filmed at a Julius Berger construction site pretending to be a madman eating in public.
“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 explained.
The veteran musician said the unconventional plan eventually paid off, as it softened public criticism and helped restore his reputation as he transitioned into a successful solo artist.
Sir Shina Peters went on to become one of Nigeria’s most celebrated Afro-Juju stars, renowned for his energetic performances and timeless hits that shaped the genre in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
