My Trauma Stemmed From My Parents Being Famous – Clarence Peters

Clarence Peters, the renowned music video director has opened up about the struggles of growing up with famous parents, admitting the experience brought him deep emotional trauma.

Clarence, who is the son of Afro-Juju legend Shina Peters and Nollywood icon Clarion Chukwurah, admitted in a recent interview that he struggled with his parents’ fame and did not like being in the limelight.

This discomfort shaped his career choices, leading him to remain behind the scenes.

He explained that the trauma from his upbringing contributed to his struggles with impostor syndrome—a condition characterized by self-doubt and feelings of unworthiness despite success. Due to this, he initially avoided attaching his name to his work, even as his music videos gained global recognition.

“I grew up with famous parents, and some of my trauma stemmed from them being in the limelight—I didn’t like that,” he said.

Clarence recounted how a close friend and colleague eventually tricked him into putting his name on his work.

“I didn’t even want to put my name on music videos, but a friend I used to edit with insisted on adding it, and there was nothing I could do about it,” he revealed.

Further reflecting on his journey, he admitted that self-doubt plagued him in his early years, making him question his talent. However, he credited his mother, Clarion Chukwurah, for believing in his abilities before he even recognized them himself.

“I didn’t think I had the personality for it. I wasn’t even sure about my talent. The only person who was certain—even before I started exhibiting it—was my mother. She firmly believed that it’s in the genes,” he added.