Adieu “AKIN SHUGA” Pioneer Of Repertoire Liveband

By Bimbo Esho

Akin Shuga was one of those who pioneered Repertoire Live-band in Lagos and made it popular.

When he started out in the 90’s he didn’t limit himself to just the Owanbe groove where the bands were fixated on either playing Juju Music or Highlife but rather he introduced different foreign genres like country music, Jazz, RnB, etc to his repertoire .

No Executive events in Nigeria became complete without his band Shuga Band.

According to one of his friends Mr Femi Alagbada who also is a Pioneer repertoire band owner he said they both played at Printos in Ikeja and Ikoyi Club in the 90’s. He described Akin as a perfectionist who understood the Lagos elites and their musical taste.

There is no doubt that Akin Shuga brought class and dignity to a profession that was often seen as only meant for the lowlives. He turned Liveband around and made it an integral part of our Culture.

Akin Shuga often reminded his crew that they should not play music to impress rather it was meant to connect to the audience.

Akin Shuga who has been down with Polio since Age 5 has shown that there is ability in disability having rose above his physical limitations to become one of Nigeria’s most celebrated bandleader and live music entrepreneurs. Some of the songs in his repertoire are My Lagos, My Lady, etc.

May his gentle soul ŕest in peace.