With Valentine's Day just two weeks away, Nigeria's premium live music ensemble, Shuga Band, is stepping confidently into a new era. It recently unveiled a refreshed structure and a special mashup release to soundtrack the 2026 love season.
The highly sought-after band has dropped a carefully curated medley of Nigerian and international classics, marking its first major release since the passing of its founder, the late Akiin Shuga. The Valentine-themed mashup--designed for lovers and discerning music tastemakers--will be available on all digital streaming platforms from February 1, 2026.
Beyond the music, the release signals continuity. According to the band's management, the new offering represents a deliberate effort to preserve and extend Akiin Shuga's legacy while repositioning the group for its next phase. To that end, Shuga Band has also constituted a high-calibre board of trustees, tasked with providing strategic direction and institutional structure.
Despite the transition, the band has continued to thrive, honouring a growing slate of premium bookings from both long-standing and new elite clientele. Renowned for its mastery of multiple genres--ranging from classic standards and contemporary hits to gospel and African traditional sounds--Shuga Band remains a fixture at high-profile social and corporate events.
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The ensemble recently reinforced its reputation with a standout performance on the Christmas Live edition of ARISE TV's flagship programme, This Morning--its third consecutive appearance. The performance earned a public endorsement from Prince Nduka Obaigbena, Publisher of THISDAY Newspaper and Chairman of ARISE TV, who pledged continued support for the band and committed to retaining Shuga Band as a regular feature at THISDAY and ARISE Group events.
Founded in 1998 by Berklee College of Music-trained virtuoso Akinloye Tofowomo, Shuga Band has built an enduring legacy as one of Africa's longest-serving live entertainment bands. Until his passing in October 2025, Akiin Shuga led the group to entertain Nigeria's most exclusive audiences, including serving presidents and some of the country's wealthiest individuals, earning him widespread respect within the industry.
Speaking on the band's evolution, Jerry Odeh, Business Manager of Shuga Band, said: "Our late founder, Akiin Shuga, ran so that we can 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."
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