Gbenga Adebayo
Afro-Juju icon Sir Shina Peters recently revealed a shocking chapter from his early career—a calculated act of deception to win back public favor.
During an appearance on The Honest Bunch Podcast, the music legend confessed to staging a mental breakdown after facing backlash for leaving Prince Adekunle’s band.
Public outrage had erupted when Peters departed the group, with fans accusing him of greed and betrayal toward his mentor. To counter the negative narrative, his team orchestrated an elaborate ruse.
“The criticism was overwhelming—people saw me as ungrateful,” Peters recalled. “So my label executives and media allies crafted this bizarre plan to make me appear mentally disturbed.”
The scheme involved transforming the musician’s appearance: unkempt braids, ragged clothing, and public odd behavior. Cameras captured him shopping for ewedu leaves at Oyingbo Market in this disheveled state.
The performance escalated in Badagry, where Peters pretended to work at a construction site while acting erratically. “I had to eat messily in public and behave like someone who’d lost touch with reality,” he admitted.
Though unconventional, the strategy succeeded in shifting public perception. Peters’ staged “breakdown” generated sympathy, ultimately paving the way for his triumphant solo career.
Grace Effiong
