Renowned Nigerian music video director Clarence Peters has opened up about his journey to forgiveness and growth, revealing that he forgave his father, legendary Afro-Juju singer Sir Shina Peters, long before they ever had a conversation about their strained relationship.
Clarence, 41, shared this deeply personal story during a recent episode of the Afropolitan Podcast. According to him, the turning point came around 2014 or 2015, when he came to a powerful realisation that he had repeated many of the same mistakes his father had once made.
“I made every single mistake my father made,” he said during the interview. “The only difference is that I was lucky. Time and technology saved me from suffering the same level of damage his own choices brought him. And the moment I understood that, I forgave him, instantly. That was before we ever spoke about it. That was when I truly began my journey into adulthood.”
Clarence, the only child from the union between Sir Shina Peters and veteran Nollywood actress Clarion Chukwura, has had a complex relationship with his parents.
Over the years, he has hinted at the emotional struggles he faced growing up, especially due to his father’s absence and his mother’s early challenges.
Peters shares mom’s considering to abort him
In an earlier interview, Peters revealed that his mother once considered aborting him while she was pregnant. She later changed her mind because she believed the child in her womb was the reincarnation of her late father, who had died when she was only 11.
Despite the rocky start to life and a complicated family background, Clarence has gone on to build a name for himself in Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
He is widely regarded as one of the most successful music video directors in Africa. His company, Capital Dreams Pictures, has directed award-winning videos for top Nigerian stars like Davido, Tiwa Savage, Wizkid, and Burna Boy.
But behind the success lies a man who has wrestled with inner battles. During a February 2025 conversation with host Chude Jideonwo, Clarence reflected further on the long-standing tension with his father.
He admitted that he once wanted to judge Shina Peters harshly for the way he treated his mother. However, with time and reflection, he learned to step back.
“I would have loved to judge my dad for how he treated my mum,” he said. “But I’m not in a position to. Life is more complicated than that.”
He added that although he tried hard not to treat women the way his father did, he was still far from perfect.
“I tried not to be like him when it comes to women. But I’m not perfect. I’m still learning.”
He made it clear during the podcast that his journey into adulthood began not when he achieved fame or success, but when he decided to let go of the anger and resentment he held toward his father.
“That was when I became an adult,” he said. “And to be honest, you’re always on the journey. You never stop growing.”
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