Nigerian Singer Chike has opened up about a deeply personal experience that reshaped how he relates to church and faith.
Reflecting on an incident from years ago, he revealed that attending a particular church became uncomfortable after he unexpectedly encountered someone from his past.
According to Chike, the woman leading praise and worship was someone he had once been involved with, a discovery that instantly unsettled him.
“The chick that was leading the praise and worship, we had history. And I was having flashbacks. She was kabashing, and I’m like… who’s that,” he recalled. The awkwardness was enough to make him leave the church after just a week.
Chike clarified that his decision wasn’t due to a lack of belief. “Not because I don’t believe in God, because I do,” he said. He shared a moment from early in his career when he prayed earnestly for direction while living in Primewater Gardens with his then-girlfriend. “I just said a prayer. I said, God, I don’t have anybody. I don’t have anything. Just help me.”
The singer also recounted a lighter but chaotic moment shortly after releasing his debut album, when he unknowingly consumed a strong edible. “Three, four days into the release of my album, I didn’t even know where I was,” he said.
Ultimately, Chike explained that the structured environment of church simply doesn’t fit his lifestyle. “Church is not for me. There are things that I like that I would not be able to do,” he said.
According to him, what matters most, whether in life or leadership, is treating people well. “You just need to do right. By the people. Not necessarily live a strictly defined Christian life.”
