11th March, 2011
Top juju music act, Segun Adewale, spoke with P.M.Entertainment about his music, relationship with his former boss, General Prince Adekunle, Dayo Kujore and how he broke up with Sir Shina Peters
Where have you been?
Well, I have been around.
What has been happening to you?
A lot. I have been working. In fact, I released an album recently which is a tribute to the late Sikiru Ayinde Barrister.
Let’s go back to your background because what most people know about you is that you co-founded the Sir Shina Adewale band…
Yes, music, to me, is inborn. I decided to take it as a profession so as to exhibit my talent.
So how did you know that you are talented?
I discovered myself when I was in school at the then Ahmadiya College, Agege, now Anwar Ul Islam College, Agege, Lagos, in 1968. Then, I was in lower sixth form. I knew I could play trumpet and also do well in boxing. I could also compose songs and after a brief consultation, I took music as a profession.
How did you actually start?
I started by learning how to play some instruments like clef, gong, sekere, samba, bass drum and gonbe. We call it gonbe but some people call it akinole. It is being used by all juju artistes.
Did you attend any music school?
No, music is not all about attending a music school. You can attend one and release an album which may not make any impact because it will be too complex to understand.
Did you start playing professional music from college or in the university?
I left in part three.
What was the reaction of your parents then?
They were not happy because they wished that I should study Medicine.
How did you join Prince Adekunle’s band?
Before joining Prince Adekunle’s band, I had played with about five bands including those of the late I.K. Dairo’s, Ross Adetola’s in Ibadan, Bayo Adegbola’s, M.A. Jaiyesinmi’s and another one before founding Super Stars Band.
How many were you then?
It was a 12-man band formed in 1973.
What happened to the band?
It died a natural death due to lack of money and other things.
After that, what happened?
As I was preparing to go back to school to hearken to my parents’ voice, I was invited by Prince Adekunle to captain his band. He told me that my talent drew him to me and as I was about to go to him, I learnt that Dayo Kujore was the person that advised him to go for me, because of my composing dexterity.
Did you meet Dayo Kujore in Prince Adekunle’s band?
No, he had left before my arrival but I met Shina Peters there.
Did you find out why Dayo left?
What I was told then was that Dayo left because of a little misunderstanding between him and Prince Adekunle on one hand and Shina, on the other.
Shina and Dayo are talented guitarists, between the two, who do you think is more talented?
Well, Shina has an edge.
What happened in Prince Adekunle’s band?
Well, I met Shina there. He was a good person, dedicated to his duties. We did things the way they should and the greatest love began between the two of us. We were like twins.
We learnt both of you destroyed the band and left?
No, the problem started when we returned from a tour of England in 1976. Something strange happened. Some members of the Supersonic Band (Prince Adekunle’s band) and I were summoned to a meeting. At the meeting, Prince Adekunle asked me to leave and a letter was handed over to me immediately by the management. I took it in good faith and went back to study the contents of the letter. Surprised, I thought of what I did to warrant the sack and tried to see Prince Adekunle in his office then located at Palm Avenue, but he was not there and went to his house where he told me to go, that my services were no longer required.
What happened next?
I went straight to my bank to withdraw some money to buy some musical equipment and started to rehearse, while some people came to me to encourage me to play on.
Where?
It was in Orile Agege area of Lagos State. I was living in a family house on Olurinde Street then.
What happened next?
Some of the sacked members of Prince Adekunle’s band came to me and requested we should team up and form a band, but I told them that I didn’t have enough money to do that.
So they left?
No, they promised to serve even when there was nothing.
How and when did Shina join the band?
It was after the rehearsals and we were about going to the studio. Shina came and pledged his loyalty. At that point, we told him to go and get a sack letter and truly, he left and later came back with a sack letter. From there, we knew he was serious and so, we accommodated him.
The Super Stars International recorded eight successful albums, what led to its break up?
I cannot really say, but what we heard was that one of our financiers paid Shina to record an album for him.
And he did so?
I think he was cajoled by some smart guys to move away from Ibukun Orisun Iye Records label. Although we were not privileged to that assertion, it was alleged that he was given $25,000 then.
Let’s go back to Shina Adewale’s days. You said he came into the band a week before the recording of your album, that means you employed him?
You said it.
No, you said it?
It’s like you and your friend coming together and according to a popular saying that a friend in need is a friend indeed, I had to join my surname to his first name and became Sir Shina Adewale.
Why did you name the band Super Star International?
We considered it a resurrection of the one I formed in 1973.
Who was your sponsor then?
We decided to record first and later searched for a recording company, but along the line, Welkadels came in and unknown to us, he was an in-law of M. Ola Kazeem the owner of Ibukun Orisun Iye Records label and before we knew it, we fell into the trap.
How did the two of you compose the songs in all the eight albums from Verse One to Verse Eight?
I composed all the songs. If anybody can prove me wrong, I will place a bet of N50 million on it.
What was the role of Shina Peters?
He was a guitarist, everybody knows that.
How did you share the royalties?
We shared them together.
Why did the band break up?
What I can remember is, we had a meeting with M. Ola Kazeem in December and he asked us to think of what to buy and we left together. That was the last time I saw Shina, but I can remember that he murmured that we were being cheated and that was all.
Did he inform you that he was leaving?
No, but he called me and said he was seeing somebody and that if I like, I could follow him and he left for Skylak Records.
What did you do later?
I was managing the old instruments and when I went back to M. Ola Kazeem, he said he knew the two of us and could not relate with one person and that was all.
Was Shina humiliated in the band before he left?
No, I took good care of him.
We learnt that Welkadels Records gave the two of you a Volkswagen Beetle car each?
No, we worked for them.
After splitting, what did you do next?
I formed my own band in 1980 and since then, I have been playing.
Is it natural for a band founded by two persons to split?
If I sing one song, you will think something extraordinary is behind the break up. S’ore mi ki n s’ore e, iwon laa sun’kun ore mo, meaning there is always an end to everything in life.
So you had a premonition that the band will break up?
No.
How did you share proceeds from live shows?
We know how we did it. At times, my share of the proceeds were brought to me at home.
After the separation in 1979, what has been happening to you and your band?
I have been living well, enjoying what I know how to do best, playing music. I have just released an album and another one is coming out in April.
How rich are you?
I am rich, musically, spiritually and in everything.
Have you made money from music?
Yes, I am comfortable.
