Nigerian singer Spyro has opened up about a painful childhood experience involving his father, whom he described as a pastor, and how his treatment affected his self-perception while growing up.

Speaking in an interview with Arise TV broadcaster Rufai Oseni, the singer recalled being accused of stealing whenever money went missing in church, saying the accusations often left him publicly embarrassed.

Spyro explained that his father would allegedly point fingers at him in front of other people whenever money went missing, only to later discover that he was not responsible.

He also recounted an incident involving a school cleaner who allegedly scratched his head with her long nails. According to Spyro, when he reported the incident to his father, he was accused of lying and subsequently punished.

He recalled:

“My dad is a pastor. He will tell outsiders that this boy is a thief. Once money misses in church, he will point to me. All the public embarrassment, and then when he eventually finds what he’s looking for, he buys you milk.

When we got home, my dad flogged me and left a mark that’s still on my back 22 years later. It broke me because I told this man the truth and I suffered for it.

If not for the love from my mom and how she was able to constantly balance things up, it affected me because I felt since he believes I’m a terrible child, let me just be terrible,” he recalled.

Spyro said the experiences affected the way he viewed himself, explaining that he eventually began feeling that he should live up to the negative image his father had created of him.

He credited his mother’s love and support with helping him cope with the difficult experiences and providing a sense of balance during his childhood.

The singer’s account has sparked conversations about parenting, childhood trauma, public humiliation and the lasting impact that repeated negative treatment can have on a child’s self-esteem.