## Introduction: The Man Who Made Nigeria Believe in Magic

For over three decades, one name dominated the entertainment landscape of Nigeria and West Africa with an enchantment that transcended mere performance Professor Moshood Abiola Peller. Born Folorunsho Abiola in 1941 in Iseyin, Oyo State, Nigeria, this extraordinary showman transformed stage illusion into a cultural phenomenon that captivated presidents, kings, and millions of ordinary Africans alike.

Picture this: A white limousine crawling through Lagos streets, sunroof open, revealing a dashing figure in pristine white suit, hat, everythingwaving to frenzied crowds that thronged his convoy like pilgrims following a prophet. This was the spectacle of Professor Peller at the height of his powers, a magician who didn't just perform tricks but created moments of collective wonder that an entire nation talked about for days.

### Early Life: From "Olori Pupa" to Africa's Greatest Illusionist
#### Humble Beginnings in Iseyin
Growing up in Iseyin, young Moshood was fondly called "Moshood Olori Pupa," meaning "Moshood the Red-Headed Boy," a nickname that hinted at the distinctive presence that would later define his stage persona. He attended Moslem School, Iseyin and Native Authority Primary School, Iseyin, receiving a basic Islamic education that would remain central to his identity throughout his life.

#### The Genesis of a Magician
Peller started performing illusion tricks in 1954. This was an era before widespread television, when live entertainment was king, and the young Folorunsho Abiola discovered he had a gift for captivating audiences with sleight of hand and theatrical flair. However, the pull of the stage proved irresistible, even after briefly working in commerce. The magic within him demanded expression.

### The Making of a Master: Training and Transformation
#### Journey to India: The Crucible of Excellence
What separated Professor Peller from street conjurers was his commitment to formal training. In 1964, he attended a school of magical arts in India, where he spent 18 months mastering the technical aspects of stage magic. This period was transformative it was where Folorunsho Abiola became Professor Peller.

### The Birth of "Professor Peller"
The stage name "Professor Peller" was a masterstroke of personal branding. The "Professor" designation elevated him above common entertainers, suggesting authority, knowledge, and mastery qualities that his performances would consistently demonstrate. After completion of his training, he settled in Liberia, where he refined his craft before returning triumphantly to Nigeria.

### The Return: Conquering Nigeria's Stages
#### The Federal Palace Hotel Debut
In 1966, Peller had his first post-training show at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos one of Nigeria's most prestigious venues. This debut marked the official arrival of a new kind of entertainment in Nigeria: Western theatrical sophistication combined with African showmanship, unlike traditional "juju" practitioners.

#### The Golden Age: 1970s-1990s
For about thirty years, Peller held the world's most populous black nation spellbound. His performances were not mere shows they were events that shut down entire neighborhoods as people rushed to witness the impossible made possible.

### The Signature Acts: Magic That Defined an Era
#### The Floating Woman
Peller's most famous illusions involved levitation. He levitated his assistant, typically his wife, Lady Peller, making her appear to float in mid-air with no visible support.

#### The Sawing Illusion
Perhaps his most talked about performance was the coffin trick. He put his wife in a coffin and sliced the same coffin into two, apparently cutting her in half without drawing blood, then miraculously reuniting the separated halves.

#### The Disappearing Cabinet
He locked his assistant in a cupboard, chained up several times over yet she disappeared only to reappear moments later in the audience, eliciting gasps and applause.

#### Other Spectacular Feats

Professor Peller's repertoire also included Invisible General, The Escaping Box, Changing Dresses, and The Zigzag.

### Performing for Power: Kings, Presidents, and the Elite
Professor Peller's reputation transcended national boundaries. He wowed great African leaders like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, President Gnassingbe Eyadéma of Togo, President Samuel Doe of Liberia, and President Mathieu Kerekou of Benin Republic. He was also a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, placing him among the global elite.

#### A Witness Account: The 1972 George V Stadium Show
To truly understand Professor Peller's impact, consider this eyewitness account from Femi Oyebode, describing Peller at a 1972 show:

> "Professor Peller was dressed in black tails, a top hat... He was a perfect picture of debonair gentleman and was assisted by an attractive young woman... It was a masterly performance. The crowd clapped, hooped. We were seduced against our better judgment."

### The Woman Behind the Magic: Lady Peller
#### Partner on Stage and in Life
**Alhaja Silifat Adeboyin Peller** was the most prominent of his wives and an integral part of the show. She was the beautiful assistant who would be sawn in half and made to vanish. Peller taught her magic and ensured she got training in Michigan, USA, demonstrating his commitment to her as a true partner in his craft.

#### Her First Encounter with His Magic
When she first witnessed her husband perform a particularly dramatic trick, she fainted immediately.

She said: "It was a great shock and I had never seen that kind of things. I don't ever wish to go through that kind of thing again."

Yet she overcame her shock to become his most trusted assistant, appearing with him in shows across Africa and beyond.

### The Peller Dynasty: Children Carrying the Legacy
Several of their children have made significant marks in their own fields:
* **Shina Peller**: An entrepreneur, former "**King of Nightlife**" (Club Quilox), and currently a Member of the National Assembly.
* **Nike Peller**: A famous thespian and magician who carries the family's stage legacy.
* **Saheed "Zeeto" Peller**: A lawyer who has returned to the magic world to sustain his father's craft.
* **Saburi (aka Pastor Kayode Abiola):** Briefly practiced magic before becoming a pastor.
### The Intersection of Faith and Illusion
Professor Peller was a devout Muslim who never missed his Islamic obligations. This created a fascinating contradiction, as he viewed stage magic as entertainment and technical skill, distinct from supernatural or occult practices. This distinction was crucial in a society where the line between "magic" (illusion) and "juju" (supernatural) was often blurred, adding fuel to his mystique.

### August 2, 1997: The Day Magic Died
#### A Fatal Evening
On the fateful day of August 2, 1997, Peller was attacked at his residence while observing his evening prayers at Onipanu, Lagos State and was fatally shot by unknown gunmen.

### The Vulnerability Revealed
According to Mrs. Silifat Abiola Peller, the assassins knew exactly when to strike:

> "He had unknowingly given out information during an interview. He made a mistake telling journalists during an interview that the only time he was without any magic or power was when he was praying. He said he only wore an agbada or jalabia, and nothing else whenever he prayed."

The assassins ensured they carried out the act at the only time he was observing prayers and was, by his own admission, unprotected.

#### An Unsolved Murder
To this day, the circumstances surrounding his death remain shrouded in secrecy and speculation, with conspiracy theories abounding. The case remains one of Nigeria's many unsolved murders, adding a tragic mystique to his already legendary status.

### Legacy: The Magic That Never Dies
Professor Peller transformed entertainment in Nigeria. He showed that African performers could compete on the world stage while maintaining their cultural authenticity, setting a standard of excellence for generations of performers.

His life's journey, from the boy called "Olori Pupa" to the undisputed "Professor" of African magic, embodied the transformative power of dedication, skill, and showmanship.

**In the history of African entertainment, there was magic before Professor Peller, and there has been magic after him. But there will never be another quite like him.**

### References:

This article drew upon reporting from
* Guardian Nigeria - Professor Peller: The magician who wowed Africa
* Vanguard News - How Prof Peller was killed during prayers (Interview with Lady Silifat Peller)
* Oyebode, Femi - Eyewitness account of 1972 George V Stadium performance
* Various Nigerian entertainment archives (1960s-1990s)