Abuja, Nigeria: Nigeria’s music and film communities united in tribute as the Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN) and the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) honoured King Sunny Ade, the legendary Juju maestro, on his 79th birthday.
With a career spanning over five decades, Sunny Ade’s influence transcends genres, generations, and borders—his artistry remains a cornerstone of African musical heritage.
This milestone is not just a birthday; it’s a celebration of a living legend whose rhythms continue to echo across the continent and beyond.
During interviews on Monday, leaders of the two associations extolled the virtues of the `juju’ icon and his contribution to African music.
Pretty Okafor, National President of PMAN, described KSA, fondly known as King Sunny Ade by his fans, as a living legend has used his works to promote peace and unity.
According to Okafor, KSA’s talent and virtues of humility and hard work have continued to inspire generations of artists across Africa and beyond.
“King Sunny Ade is a legend, and he is enjoying his age, living through it in peace and harmony.
“He is a pretty humble and quiet person, and I wish him the best of the day and more happy years of celebrations.
“He has continued to use his craft and character to inspire the younger generation of artistes, including me, and we still have a lot to learn from him and his work ethic.
“As a former president of PMAN, he has continued to support and motivate us,” he said.
Abubakar Yakubu, National Secretary of AGN, the umbrella body for professional screen actors in the Nigerian film industry, said that KSA stood as a beacon of professionalism at its peak.
According to him, the Juju legend is an African music Ambassador whose timeless tunes cut across all generations.
Yakubu said that Sunny Ade’s trajectory in Nigerian music is that of a success story for the younger generations to emulate.
“His voice, body, soul and everything about him is music, and he has inspired generations and given the world a piece of history.
“First, it is his humility and then the commitment and dedication to his craft.
“Today, on behalf of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, I want to wish the legendary King Sunny Ade a happy 79th birthday,” he said.
The AGN scribe urged Nigerian artistes, especially up-and-coming ones, to draw inspiration from the success story of the septuagenarian.
Sunday Adegeye, born on September 22, 1946, hails from Ondo State.
He is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, regarded as one of the first African pop musicians to gain international success. He has been called one of the most influential musicians of all time.
Among other feats, his acclaimed 1980 album “Syncro System” earned him his first Grammy nomination in the ethnic/traditional folk recording category, making him the first Nigerian Grammy award nominee ever.