+How Bashorun DELE MOMODU Coined SHINAMANIA
30 years after, everybody is still talking about Sir Shina Peters 4 evergreen albums. One of them is SHINAMANIA, the album that rocked the 80s. Many don’t know that it was OVATION Publisher, Bashorun Dele Momodu who gave the album the name SHINAMANIA, as a Reporter then with Weekend Concord. Dele Momodu was the one who wrote the story titled SHINAMANIA: Afro Juju Is The New Craze In Town. “I had gone to cover the launch of ACE album at Ebute Metta Railway Recreation Club and I came back with exclusive stories”, Momodu told City People recently. “My Editor, Mr. Mike Awoyinfa was over the moon so he said we should give Shina full cover. The first time a musician would be given a full cover. So that was how I became very close to Sir. Shina Peters”. Below are excerpts of SSP’s Live Chat with City People TV a few days ago.
How has the last 3 months been sir?
First of all, I will like to give thanks to God. Every Sunday, I normally give thanks to God. I thank God for giving me the privilege to still be alive and at the same time I will seize this opportunity to thank all my fans all over the world, despite the pandemic situation in the country they still found time to celebrate me on my birthday. Thank you so much.
How did you take the news in March when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out?
As regards Covid-19 I have learnt a lot. The Covid-19 has shown to us that this life is far more delicate than we can imagine. I now believe that whatever you are doing today in a second, the table can turn around. I have learnt to be more conscious. I have learnt to be more humble, because we may be seeing today and tomorrow we are no more together. Apart from that for us, especially it’s only when we are eating and dinning together we remember ourselves. We have been indoor for 3 months now.
So I have learnt to be more cautious now especially when it comes to savings. If we don’t work for 3 months and money is not coming from anywhere, if you don’t know how would you will manage, if the money is not forthcoming, the one you saved too will finish.
As long as we are still on the lockdown there is nothing like music, there is nothing like concert, there is nothing like social life. So if this pandemic continues till next year, how are we going to survive? But people are talking about banking they are talking about corporate world, they are forgetting that it’s we artistes they always use when they are going up there.
They use us when they are going for the Presidency, Senate etc. to be singing for them. But today no one is remembering us. That’s why I learnt to respect integrity. If you have integrity you have everything God forbid, I will not go into the street and be begging people for money, but what I am saying is it’s good to save because this kind of thing can still happen any time. What I am spending now is my past savings. We always advise artistes to always make sure their music is a constant materials. By the grace of God I have many materials to turn to money anyday anytime. But what about those artistes who have sold their master tapes?
What is God telling you about Covid-19?
What is happening is a lesson to draw us closer to God. For us to believe that God is everything. He can do and undo. Also, God is telling us to pray for forgivness. God is using Covid-19 to tell us that He is still God. No scientist, no philosopher, no medical practitioner can beat God.
This is a serious matter, it is not a joke, anything can happen any second, any minute. God is telling us that the world is coming to an end. Whether we like it or not Jesus is coming back.
We were supposed to be celebrating one of your evergreen music. When exactly is it, Sir?
We are going to celebrate 30 years of Shinamanias on October 26 this year.
How does it make you feel each time you look at some of your great work?
I always feel good, knowing fully well that it’s not by my making. Whatever that happened to me so far, God has always been with me. I am so lucky I have people who love me genuinely all over the world. I am one of the luckiest artistes in the world.
That is why I can also go extra mile to reciprocate, to show the love back. Look at somebody like you who has been assisting artistes and you are still doing it till today. I know it’s only God that can reward you.
So I always give thanks to God for what he has done for me so far.
How did you put the album “Shinamania” together 30 years ago? Did you know it was going to be a big hit when you released it?
Like I said, the Shinamania album is not by my making. God just used me and still using me to make people happy. Everything that belongs to me is from God. There are lots of talented people. So why would I not give all the praises to God. Shinamania is the handwork of God, been apostled by me Sir Shina Peters.
Sir, before Shinamania you had Ace and which other one?
Dancing time! Dancing Time will also be 30 years. (Laughs). What are the differences in the 3 albums?
Ace, Shinamania, Dancing Time and Experience are the 4 evergreens, and they are totally different. But the beat, Afro Juju is the same lyriccally, they are different. You will remember I always put Igbo language into my lyrics because I always like to bring the 3 tribes into my music. I always love to unite them. I always use my music to unite the country. There was a time you can’t play KSA or Ebenezer Obey where Igbo people are, they will tell you to remove it.
But everybody listens to Sir Shina Peters because our songs unite them. I make sure that they understand every bit of it.
What was the message in Shinamania?
I used Shinamania to support women all over the world. Why can’t we allow women to hold this country? Look at what happened in Libya. To me I believe we are just trying and we will be there. I would love to see a woman in my own time to be the President of Nigeria. Because we all can see the spiritual connection between a mother and a child. You will surely see success in anything a woman heads. That is how God created it. Though we men are the head but we are hustlers, we always have to much in our head.
But mothers think about how to take care of so many things including us. We should allow women’s involvement in the affair of this country, both in state and federal level.
Why did you call it Shinamania?
Dele Momodu was the one who tagged my album Shinamania for reasons I don’t know till date but I thank God.
