Socialite Akiin Shuga dies 37 days to 51st birthday
By Tosin Brown –
One of Nigeria’s leading entertainment practitioners and finest live performers, Akinloye Tofowomo, popularly known as Akiin Shuga, is dead. He died on Thursday, October 30, 2025, in New Brunswick, Canada. He was 50 and would have turned 51 on January 6, 2026.
Born on January 6, 1975, in Ile-Oluji, Ondo State, Akiin Shuga’s life was a story of courage and passion. Stricken by polio at the age of five, he rose above his physical limitations to become one of Nigeria’s most celebrated bandleaders and live-music entrepreneurs.
He founded the famous Shuga Band in 1998, starting from Pintos Bar in Ikeja, Lagos. What began as a small group later grew into a 14-man ensemble that became a fixture at weddings, corporate events, and state occasions.
“Akiin was more than a performer; he was a reformer,” a close colleague said. “He brought dignity to a profession that was often misunderstood. He made us see that a live band is not just an accessory for parties, but an important part of our cultural economy.”
Known for his attention to detail, Akiin Shuga often reminded his crew, “We don’t perform to impress; we perform to connect.” He was described as a perfectionist with a big heart who inspired everyone around him to do better while treating them like family.
Akiin Shuga studied Music Business at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, USA, before returning to Nigeria to modernise live performance. He introduced innovations such as brand collaborations, choreography, and digital sound engineering, raising the standard of live music in the country.
Beyond music, he was a strong advocate for people living with disabilities. As a polio survivor, he established the Shuga Limb Foundation to support persons with limb challenges and was appointed Rotary International District Polio Ambassador in 2018.
In a statement, his family confirmed his passing and thanked everyone for their prayers and condolences, requesting privacy to honour his life. Akinloye Tofowomo is survived by his wife, children, siblings, and mother.
