Naija Juju musician claims he has more classics than Michael Jackson
Veteran Nigerian Juju musician, Sir Shina Peters, has claimed that he has produced more classic songs than the late American pop legend Michael Jackson.
Speaking on The Honest Bunch podcast, the 67-year-old music icon said he measures success in music not by fame or wealth, but by the number of evergreen songs a musician leaves behind.
“The only thing you can show for showbiz at the end is how many evergreens you have produced. To my credit, I have four evergreens. Even Michael Jackson has just two — Of The World and Thriller. So, if I have four, I am accomplished,” he asserted. “.”
According to Sir Shina Peters, having timeless records that transcend generations is the true legacy of any great artiste.
He noted that while many musicians chase trends and temporary hits, the real reward lies in creating songs that remain relevant decades later.
Despite his personal satisfaction with his body of work, the Afro-Juju legend expressed concern over the current state of the Nigerian music scene. He lamented that many modern acts focus more on fame and virality rather than substance and musical longevity.
Shina Peters (born Oluwashina Akanbi Peters on 30 May 1958 in Ogun State, Nigeria) is a celebrated Juju musician known for pioneering a hybrid style he dubbed “Afro-Juju.”
He began his musical journey playing with friends and later worked with prominent bands including those of Ebenezer Obey and General Prince Adekunle. In the 1980s, he formed the band “Shina Adewale” with Segun Adewale before establishing his own unit, Sir Shina Peters & His International Stars.
His breakout album, Ace (Afro-Juju Series 1), released in 1989 under CBS Nigeria, went double platinum. The record fused fast percussion, electronic keyboards, saxophone and guitar — infusing Juju with Afrobeat influences — and earned him both “Artist of the Year” and “Album of the Year” honours.
Throughout his career he has released a prolific sequence of albums from Way to Freedom (1980) through to D One 4 Me (2012). His innovative blend of rhythms and his flamboyant style made him one of Nigeria’s most influential modern musicians in the Juju genre.
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