Veteran Afro-Juju musician, Sir Shina Peters, has shared a deeply personal story about the hardship that drove him to leave his parents at just 10 years old.
Speaking on The Honest Bunch podcast, the legendary singer revealed that extreme poverty forced him to seek independence early in life.
“What made me leave my parents at 10 was that they couldn’t afford a room and a parlour,” Peters said. “During school holidays, I would go to Oshodi. We all shared a small room. My parents would wait for me to sleep on the mat before they could do their ‘husband and wife’ duties, and I couldn’t sleep. It was painful.”
The experience, he said, left a lasting mark and eventually inspired him to step out on his own.
“I told myself, ‘Shina, go outside and find life for yourself.’ I was a spiritual boy — I fasted for 60 to 90 days. One day, I woke my parents and said, ‘Papa, Mama, I dey go.’ They thought I was joking. But I told them, ‘Forget education for now, let me find my way so I can make you proud.’ That was how I left at age 10.”
“I Swore Never to Return as a Failure”
Peters recalled leaving home in the middle of the night after a symbolic family ritual meant to prevent misfortune.
“Around 2 a.m., the landlord brought out a bottle of schnapps, meaning such an incident should never happen again,” he said. “As I left, I looked back and told my parents I would never return a failure. I promised to make them proud.”
Years later, the promise came true. Reflecting on his success, Peters recounted visiting his family home after making it big in music.
“In 1972, during my second trip to London with Prince Adekunle, my family came to the airport to welcome me. I took them to our house — the one that used to have 10 rooms had been reduced to two because of the Oshodi canal. Each time I remember, I work even harder,” he said.
“Music Is Not ‘Sere-Sere’ Business”
Peters also spoke on the dedication required to sustain success in music, contrasting the old-school discipline with today’s industry trends.
“Music is not the ‘sere-sere’ thing people do now. To become an icon, a legend, you must go the extra mile. You’re a role model — what you sing as a young person should differ from what you sing as an adult,” he added.
