Nigerian singer Spyro has candidly discussed his relationship with religion, revealing a contrasting past in a recent episode of the Tea with Tay Podcast hosted by Emmanuel Taymesan. Spyro shared insights into his upbringing in the Mushin area of Lagos and the challenges he faced growing up as the son of a pastor.
Reflecting on his strict upbringing, Spyro mentioned that his father, as a pastor, adhered to stern principles typical of religious leaders with their children.
He acknowledged the common perception that pastor’s kids often face stricter rules, and he admitted feeling pressure during that period, leading to a period where he “hated God” because of his father’s influence.
Opening up about the intense environment created by his father’s religious values, Spyro shared, “My father was quite strict and he’s a pastor so you know the way pastors are with their kids. They’re really strict because they have this ideology that their children are the ones that…” after which Taymesan chimed in saying, “Na we dey spoil pass,” and Spyro nodded in agreement.
“The pressure is not good, I must say. But I didn’t even know God through my dad, even though I was right in front of the Bible. Every morning we’d wake up to the Bible, I was forced to do it so I didn’t know who God was. In fact, my dad made me hate God, the personality of God,” he added.
Despite growing up with a negative perception of religion due to the daily routine of early morning fellowship and constant exposure to the Bible, Spyro highlighted that he has since found a personal appreciation for religion on his own terms, separate from his father’s ministry.