Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu has congratulated King Sunny Ade on his 80th birthday, praising the juju musician's excellence, according to TVC News. The president's tribute was reported on Wednesday, 23 September 2026, the same day other Nigerian outlets marked the milestone.
Coverage of the occasion extended beyond the presidency. Channels Television described Ade as a juju music legend whose career has spanned six decades, while The Conversation framed the anniversary around his musical innovation, international recognition and work in preserving culture. THISDAYLIVE reported that Tinubu paid tribute to the musician as an African music icon and juju maestro. Punch Newspapers reported that the governor of Ondo State joined fans in celebrating the singer's 80th birthday.
Ade, widely known as the King of Juju Music, is the subject of widespread recognition in Nigerian media for a career that has carried the genre to audiences at home and abroad. The outlets reporting on his birthday place his professional life at roughly 60 years, a span they link to both musical creativity and the safeguarding of cultural traditions.
The scale of the tributes, from the presidency to state governors and ordinary fans, indicates the standing Ade holds in Nigerian music and public life.
What to watch next: whether further official events or statements follow as the celebrations for Ade's 80th birthday continue.
