In the 70s, one of the biggest names among the Nigerian juju artists was Emperor Pick Peter and alleged industry rival of juju maestro King Sunny Ade. Emperor Pick Peter was best known for his song “Omo ode de (meaning: The Son of the Hunter is here).”

Emperor Pick Peter, with the birth name Peter Akanni Akorede, was born April 2, 1952, in Ipokia, a town in Ogun state, sharing borders between Nigeria and the Benin Republic.

Little is known about his growing-up days except that Akanni had his primary school in his hometown and then went on to secondary school.

Akanni lost his job at a pharmaceutical giant company, Pfizer. With his severance payout, he bought a guitar, local drums, and other instruments, and Akanni launched out as a musician.

His music career started out performing in the hotels within the same vicinity in Lagos …from Boundary Hotel to Temi Ogbe, and Lido Bar (opposite the Fela’s shrine). At the Lido Bar, Akanni’s career leaped, and adopted the name Emperor Pick Peters, but he would later be called Omo Ode (meaning: the Son of the Hunter) after his hit song titled, “Omo Ode de.”

In 1973, the Emperor released his debut album titled, “Kango kango l’agogo n dun,” with Marijos Recording Company label and the album gained traction in the following year. Due to no royalties from the record label, Akanni left. While at Lido bar, another recording company, Take Your Choice (TYC) Records, reached out to him.

After the new recording company fulfilled the conditions of providing him with new musical equipment and a kombi bus, Emperor Pick Peter signed a recording contract with them. This contract was said to be a blessing and curse. A blessing as it was a lift for the emperor’s music career and a but, because the aforementioned record label had just dropped a fellow Juju musician, King Sunny Ade, to sign him on. Many fans felt Akanni was behind the disengagement, a claim Akanni refuted several times.

Nevertheless, Akanni’s career wasn’t affected by the rumor, rather he grew with newer and bigger platforms to perform for his now-growing fanbase both local and international. He released “Eda aye n reti pe ewe nla ni o lo ru wewe,” as his debut album with the TYC label and his sophomore album with the same record label was “Igbeyin l’alayo n ta.”

In his hay days, aside from the fan-alleged rival, Emperor Pick Peter had a stage rival, Dele Abiodun, a discord that led to the release of several recordings to the delight of juju fans.

In 1976, Akanni’s success was cut short by a disagreement with his promoter and CEO of TYC records, Chief Yakubu Bolarinwa Abioro. Since Chief Abioro was the emperor’s benefactor, the former collected the musical instruments and other lifestyle benefits from the latter and selected someone else as the band leader while the Emperor was thrown out in the cold.

The emperor went on to join other record labels - Oluno Records label and EMI - and later went on to establish his own record label, Identity and released over 20 albums. Sadly, Akanni’s career never bounced back from this setback at TYC records nor did he enjoy the same measure of fame.

Some of Akanni’s noteworthy releases were “Omo Ode De (The Hunter’s Son Arrived),” “Emperor Peter Tide,” “Botin Yewa Lati Owuro,” and “Oluwa Mi Mo Njade Lo,” among others.

In the last few decades of his life, Emperor Pick Peter found religion, became a Christian, and also tried to revive his career but never enjoyed the widespread fame and success like in the 70s.

He took ill at age 74 and passed away on November 2, 2023.

Emperor Pick Peter, a.k.a Omo Ode De, has gone home to rest, but we will continue to enjoy the timeless juju releases he’s left in the annals of time.

Peter Akanni Akorede, known as Emperor Pick Peters, was a Nigerian juju singer, guitarist, and founder of Identity Records.

The Emperor, Omo Ode De, Goes Home!

Peter Akanni Akorede, known as Emperor Pick Peters, was a Nigerian juju singer, guitarist, and founder of Identity Records.

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