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Tag: Akiin Shuga

  • Band continues Akiin Shuga’s legacy with classic tunes for Valentine

    Band continues Akiin Shuga’s legacy with classic tunes for Valentine

    Nigeria’s popular premium live music ensemble, Shuga Band, is leveraging on a strong brand resilience to navigate its post-founder phase with the unveiling of a new structure and the release of exciting mashup tunes for the Valentine’s season.

    The highly sought-after band has released a nuanced medley of classic tunes to usher in the 2026 romantic season for lovers and music tastemakers. The special rendition, its first post-founder release, includes a mashup of Nigerian and foreign classics. The new release goes live on all digital streams on February 1st, 2026.                 

    For the band, the new offering is not just another release but a clear signal of the continuation of the legacy of its founder, the late Akiin Shuga.

    The management of the band has also constituted a high-calibre board of trustees to provide more structure and give strategic direction for its new phase.

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    The band has continued to wax stronger, honouring a slate of bookings that continues to come from its new and existing premium clientele of the crème de la crème of society. Shuga Band stole the hearts of its fanbase with its deft mastery of different genres of music. It’s well-loved for its flawless performance of classical music and everything in between, contemporary, gospel and African traditional sounds.

    After its successful performance at the recent special Christmas live edition of Arise TV’s flagship ‘This Morning’, its third in a row, the band earned an endorsement from media mogul, Prince Nduka Obaigbena. The media baron publicly committed to supporting Akiin Shuga’s legacy by pledging that the Shuga Band will continue to perform at his media Group functions.

    The band is consolidating on the qualities of technical proficiency, music flair, stage craftsmanship and audience engagement laid down by its highly-revered founder.

    According to Jerry Odeh, the band’s business manager, “Our late founder, Akiin Shuga ran so that we could fly. He didn’t just build a band structure but also established a culture of excellence woven into the very fabric of the Shuga Band DNA. We will continue his legacy and continue to make him proud one gig at a time. With the support of a board comprising distinguished persons, we now have an extra backbone layer to navigate our post-founder phase.”

  • Live band maestro Akiin Shuga dies at 50

    Live band maestro Akiin Shuga dies at 50

    Popular Nigeria’s live band icon, Akinloye Tofowomo (aka Akiin Shuga), has died.

    He was 50.

    Shuga, as the singer is widely called, threw the Nigerian entertainment industry into a state of mourning following the announcement of his death yesterday.

    The Nation learnt that Shuga had died on Wednesday, October 30, in New Brunswick, Canada, barely three months to his 51st birthday scheduled for January 6, 2026.

    In a statement announcing Shuga’s demise, the Tofowomo family wrote: “It is with profound solemnity and total submission to the will of God that the family of Akinloye Tofowomo (Akiin Shuga) — revered music icon, Grandmaster, and Managing Director of Shuga Limb Foundation and Shuga Entertainment, Nigeria’s most prestigiouslive band — announces his passing in New Brunswick, Canada.”

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    The statement reiterated the need for privacy and quiet reflection as the family comes to terms with the immeasurable loss.

    “As the family comes to terms with this immeasurable loss, they humbly request privacy and quiet reflection at this deeply difficult time. They wish for the space to find closure and to honour his life in the intimacy of loved ones and cherished memories,” the statement added.

    Described as a “revered music icon, Grandmaster, and custodian of rhythm, culture, and the spirit of performance, Akiin Shuga was born on January 6, 1975, in Ile-Oluji, Ondo State. He was a story of resilience, courage, and purpose.

    Stricken by polio at the age of five, he defied the odds to become one of Nigeria’s most respected live-band performers and entertainment entrepreneurs.

    He founded the renowned Shuga Band in 1998, performing initially at Pintos Bar in Ikeja, Lagos. What started as a small group later grew into a 14-piece ensemble that became a regular feature at high-profile weddings, corporate events, and state occasions. His company, Shuga Entertainment, soon became a benchmark for excellence in live performance, blending creativity with organisation and professionalism.

    Akiin Shuga was also the Founder and President of the Association of Music Band Owners of Nigeria (AMBON) through which he championed the cause of live musicians and improved industry standards.

    “Akiin was more than a performer; he was a reformer,” a close colleague said in a statement. “He brought dignity to a profession that was often misunderstood. He taught us to see ourselves as entrepreneurs and brand custodians, not just entertainers.”

    Known for his discipline and commitment to excellence, Akiin Shuga was reputed for telling his crew before every show: “We don’t perform to impress; we perform to connect.”

    Reke Ofano, the Shuga Band Leader, described him as a perfectionist and mentor. “Shuga never accepted mediocrity.

    He pushed everyone to give their best, but he also had a big heart. He cared about every member of the band — their struggles, dreams, and families. That’s why we stayed; we were not just a band, we were family,” he said.

    After studying Music Business at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, USA, Akiin Shuga returned home to raise the standard of live music in Nigeria. He introduced innovations, such as corporate brand partnerships, stage choreography, and digital sound engineering — initiatives that helped redefine live performance and elevate its value in the country’s entertainment industry.

    Beyond the stage, Akiin Shuga was a voice for people living with disabilities. A survivor of polio, he founded the Shuga Limb Foundation to support persons with limb challenges.

    In 2018, he was appointed Rotary International District Polio Ambassador in recognition of his advocacy work.

  • Live-band leader Akiin Shuga dies at 50

    Live-band leader Akiin Shuga dies at 50

    Renowned musician and bandleader Akinloye Tofowomo popularly known as Akiin Shuga, has died a 50, his family announced Monday.

    The founder of the influential Shuga Band passed away October 30 in New Brunswick, Canada, after a career that spanned more than three decades and reshaped Nigeria’s live entertainment landscape.

    “It is with profound solemnity and total submission to the will of God, that the family of Akinloye Tofowomo (Akiin Shuga) — revered music icon, Grandmaster, and Managing Director of Shuga Limb Foundation and Shuga Entertainment, Nigeria’s most prestigious live band — announces his passing in New Brunswick, Canada,” the statement reads.

    The family called him a guardian of rhythm and culture whose leadership blended discipline, innovation, and artistry.

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    “Akinloye Tofowomo was more than a musician; he was a custodian of rhythm, culture, and the spirit of performance. Across more than three decades of excellence — on stage and in mentorship — he redefined what it meant to lead a band with grace, mastery, and purpose. To countless admirers at home and abroad, he was both an inspiration and an institution: a true king in his art”.

    They requested privacy during their mourning and said memorial details would follow..

    Born January 6, 1975, in Ile-Oluji, Ondo State, Tofowomo contracted polio at age five but refused to let it define him.

    He launched Shuga Band in 1998 at a small Lagos venue and grew it into a 14-member ensemble renowned for high-energy performances at weddings, corporate events, and state functions.

    Through Shuga Entertainment, he set new standards for professionalism in the industry.

    As the first president of the Association of Music Band Owners of Nigeria (AMBON), he fought for better pay and working conditions for musicians.

    Tributes poured in across social media, with fans and colleagues remembering his charisma and contributions to Nigerian music.

    He is survived by his wife, children, siblings and mother.