From Praying for Fame to Hiding from It: Peter Okoye Reflects on the Hidden Costs of Celebrity Life

Peter Okoye, known as Mr. P of the iconic Nigerian music duo P-Square, has candidly shared the personal toll that fame has taken on his life. In a recent interview with Naija FM, he revealed that the very fame he once aspired to now comes with challenges that often make him long for the privacy he once had.

Reflecting on his nearly three-decade-long career, Peter admitted that the desire for fame was once a driving force. “Before, we used to pray for fame,” he said. However, he now finds himself taking measures to maintain his privacy, such as wearing face masks, caps, and sunglasses when in public to avoid being recognized.

He expressed a yearning for normalcy, stating, “Back then we prayed so hard for this game but now at this point in my life where I have been in the industry for three decades I think it’s time to live my life.”

One of the poignant aspects of Peter’s reflection was his longing for simple pleasures that fame has made difficult to enjoy. He shared how he misses the ability to buy hot roadside food like akara (bean cakes) without attracting attention. “Most of us celebrities have parts of our lives that we don’t enjoy. There are some days that I’d be driving and I’d want to stop at the roadside and buy food like hot akara but I’d have to send someone, to avoid being spotted,” he lamented. The inconvenience of having to send someone else to get the food, only to find it no longer hot upon return, underscores the everyday sacrifices that come with celebrity status.

Peter’s reflections serve as a reminder of the complexities of fame. While it brings success and recognition, it also comes with the loss of privacy and the challenge of maintaining a sense of normalcy. As he continues his journey in the music industry, his candidness offers a glimpse into the personal side of being a public figure and the delicate balance between public life and personal well-being.