Clarence Peters, one of Nigeria’s most celebrated music video directors, has spoken candidly about his complicated relationship with his father, Juju music icon Sir Shina Peters.
In a recent interview on “With Chude”, Peters admitted that one of his greatest fears growing up was turning out like his father, particularly in how he treated women.
Despite being raised by his mother, veteran actress Clarion Chukwura, Peters acknowledged that he still found himself making some of the same mistakes. “Even though I was raised by my mother, one of my greatest fears was becoming like my father in how I treat the opposite sex. But I have been a version of that, so I am not a saint,” he admitted.
Reflecting on his parents’ relationship, Peters described their union as one that lacked the structure needed to handle the challenges they faced. He revealed that his father had his first child at a very young age and that both his parents made mistakes.
“As a child, I’d have to say my daddy screwed up. And using the word ‘screwed up’ is putting it lightly,” he said, adding that his mother also endured rejection from his father’s colleagues. This, he noted, added to the emotional struggles she was already dealing with.
Peters also disclosed that his mother once contemplated aborting him due to the overwhelming challenges she faced. However, she ultimately chose to keep the pregnancy, influenced by a message she received from her late father before his death.
He recounted how his grandfather had expressed fears about leaving his daughter behind, saying that he would return as her first child. This belief, Peters explained, played a role in his mother’s decision to carry the pregnancy to term.
The filmmaker likened his parents’ story to his recently released series “Inside Life”, which he had to piece together over the years through various accounts from family members before bringing the production to light . He also revealed that his cousin, who witnessed much of what happened firsthand, wrote an episode of “Inside Life”—which brought his mother to tears when she read the script.
Despite the challenges, Peters acknowledged that his father has since come to terms with his past. He shared that Sir Shina Peters recently admitted to having enjoyed wealth, fame, and luxury but now focuses on seeking forgiveness.