The news of Akin Shuga’s death hit like a cruel refrain that refuses to fade. Even now, days after, I still find myself playing back his songs not just to hear his voice again, but to feel the warmth, humility, and quiet excellence that defined him.
Akin Shuga, born Akin Tofowomo, was more than a musician. He was an embodiment of an era that celebrated live music, artistry, and the dignity of performance. To those of us who saw him rise, and to those privileged to share a stage or a handshake with him, he will always remain the gentleman of Nigerian rhythm and soul.
The Early Chords of a Dream
Akin’s love for music was not a casual affair; it was a calling. Long before the spotlight found him, he had already been mastering the craft learning the patience of harmony and the discipline of live performance.
He began his musical journey with a small band that would later evolve into the famous Shuga Band, a name now synonymous with class and distinction in Nigeria’s live entertainment industry. From the beginning, Akin’s vision was clear he wanted to bring elegance back to music, to restore the pride of live bands in an era fast leaning toward synthetic beats and digital noise.
It wasn’t just about entertainment; it was about connection. Every performance of his was a dialogue between artist and audience, nostalgia and newness, memory and melody.
The Lyrics Connection: A First Recognition that Mattered
Our paths crossed at Lyrics Nite Club, Ibadan, then one of the most vibrant hubs of music, culture, and youth expression in the South West. In 2004, during the first-ever World Youth Day Celebration in the South West hosted by the club at Trans Amusement Park, we honoured a set of rising stars whose talents, even then, were impossible to ignore.
Akin Shuga was one of them.
That night remains etched in my memory: the lights, the laughter, the applause, and that unmistakable humility in Akin’s eyes as he received the plaque presented by the then Deputy Governor of Oyo State, the late Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao Akala.
He was honoured alongside the Osogbo-based highlife maestro, Gbenga Falope as the Most Promising Musician in the South West, while our dear friend and industry pillar, Semiu Adelekan (Semite), received the award for entertainment excellence.
That award ceremony was more than a celebration it was a prophecy. generously supported by the Nigeria Breweries Plc, it marked the beginning of a journey that would see Akin Shuga evolve into one of the most respected live performers of his generation.
Years later, in a moment of reflection, Akin reached out to the Founder of Lyrics Nite Club, Agba Akin Kehinde Olaosebikan, after being honoured elsewhere, and said something that still touches my heart:
“Lyrics gave me my first major award. You saw me before the world saw me.”
Those words capture the essence of Akin, grateful, grounded, and genuine. He never forgot where the applause began.
Shock, Grief, and Gratitude
News of his death came as a devastating blow not just to those who loved his music, but to everyone who ever experienced his spirit. To us at Lyrics, it was deeply personal. He was not just a performer that we once honoured; he was a family.
We celebrated him early, we watched him rise, and now we mourn him with pride. In his passing, we are reminded of the fragile beauty of life and the power of recognition. That a single award, given in the heart of Ibadan twenty-one years ago, could mean so much to a man who later became a national treasure speaks volumes about the importance of believing in potentials as the Lyrics founder, Kehinde Olaosebikan is reputed for.
Thank you, Akin Shuga, for giving us beauty, rhythm, and grace. Thank you for carrying the torch of live music with dignity. Thank you for remembering where it all began with a small plaque, a big smile, and a heart full of dreams at Lyrics Nite Club, Ibadan.
May the Almighty grant you eternal rest.
May your music live on forever in the rhythm of our memories.
C. Olusola Obasola Jnr
General Manager, Lyrics Nite Club, Ibadan
