Nigerian singer, Folarin Falana, who performs as Falz, has revealed in a recent interview with Silverbird TV reasons he stopped attending church services saying pastors put him under undue pressure.
Falz who stated in the interview that he valued spirituality over religion explained that his preference would not in any way make him less a christian.
He also explained that though he was not a church-going Christian he believed in the existence of God, adding that he was not an atheist.
He said: “I’m not an atheist. I believe there is a God. But I believe in spirituality over religion. I have nothing against the church or going to church. Everyone has the right to practice the religion they desire. It has been a while that I have been to church. It does not make me less of a Christian.
“The reason is that I went to a few churches and, during sermons, I was put under undue pressure. There was a time that a pastor called me to the altar just to acknowledge my presence for being in church.
“In my mind, I felt that the service was not about me. I felt that everybody was there to worship God, yet they were putting undue pressure on me. The pastor gave me the microphone to address the congregation and I was puzzled; what did he expect me to say to the congregation?”
On the criticisms that greeted the release of one of his albums, Falz said: “My songs are always going to be heard. The world is a lot smaller now; it only takes one post and it’s everywhere regardless of the attempts by powers that be to try to stop stuff here and there.
“If you’re making this kind of music, you have to always be ready for the worst. Of course, ‘This is Nigeria’ was banned. We’re still in court. But I have my fundamental rights so you can’t really stop that regardless of what body you are.”
Recall that Falz’s mother, Funmi Falana, at Falz’s ‘Moral Instruction’ album listening session disclosed that she was worried that her son had stopped going to church. “Folarin, you don’t go to church and I am bothered,” she said. “I hope you would start going to church this year.”
In his response, Falz noted that he didn’t have to be in church to worship God.