Akiin Shuga, founder of Shuga Band and live-music pioneer, dies at 50 in Canada. Tributes pour in for the Nigerian music icon
The Nigerian entertainment industry has lost one of its finest live performers, Akinloye Tofowomo, popularly known as Akiin Shuga.
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He passed away on Thursday, October 30, 2025, in New Brunswick, Canada, at the age of 50.
His family described him as a “revered music icon, Grandmaster, and custodian of rhythm, culture, and the spirit of performance.”
Born on January 6, 1975, in Ile-Oluji, Ondo State, Akiin Shuga contracted polio at age five but rose above his physical limitations to become one of Nigeria’s most celebrated bandleaders and live-music entrepreneurs.
He founded the Shuga Band in 1998 at Pintos Bar, Ikeja, Lagos.
What started as a small ensemble eventually grew into a 14-member band, becoming a staple at weddings, corporate events, and state functions.
His company, Shuga Entertainment, became synonymous with professionalism and excellence in live performance.
Akiin Shuga was the Founder and President of the Association of Music Band Owners of Nigeria (AMBON), dedicated to improving welfare and standards in the live-music sector. A colleague said:
“Akiin was more than a performer; he was a reformer. He brought dignity to a profession often misunderstood, showing that live bands are integral to our cultural economy.”
Known for his mantra, “We don’t perform to impress; we perform to connect,” Shuga emphasized emotional connection over showmanship. Reke Ofano, Band Leader of Shuga Band, recalled:
“Shuga never accepted mediocrity. He pushed everyone to be better, but he also cared deeply. He made us feel like family.”
Akiin Shuga studied Music Business at Berklee College of Music, Boston, before returning to Nigeria to modernize live performance.
He introduced innovations such as brand collaborations, choreography, and digital sound engineering, elevating live music standards nationwide.
As a polio survivor, he founded the Shuga Limb Foundation to support people with limb challenges and served as Rotary International District Polio Ambassador in 2018.
District Governor Prince Henry Olubowale Akinyele praised him as “a man who carried his scars like medals,” noting how his song I Can Walk inspired polio survivors.
Shuga Band performed at major social events, state functions, and corporate galas across Nigeria. Despite fame, Akiin Shuga remained humble, often ending shows with a prayer and a promise to “leave joy in the air.”
Tributes continue to pour in from musicians, fans, and event professionals, hailing him as “the architect of modern live-band culture” in Nigeria.
His family expressed gratitude for the condolences:
“As we come to terms with this immeasurable loss, we ask for quiet reflection and the space to honour his life privately. Details of memorial arrangements will be announced later.”
Akinloye Tofowomo is survived by his wife, children, siblings, and mother.
Reke Ofano summed up his impact:
“He taught us that music is service — to people, to God, and to joy itself. Even in death, he remains our Grandmaster.”
One of his own lyrics said:
“Every rhythm tells a story.”
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Akiin Shuga’s story — marked by courage, melody, and meaning — will live on in every beat that celebrates the sound of live music in Nigeria.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
