Nigerian gospel sensation Tope Alabi has opened up publicly about a painful chapter of her childhood, sharing how she experienced severe mistreatment while under the care of her older sister. In a recent Instagram post, she revealed that each time she offended her sister, she would be ordered to grind scotch bonnet peppers without knowing their purpose only to be beaten and then have the ground pepper rubbed into her fresh wounds. 

She described the cycle as relentless: “After she had beaten me severely with the cane, there would be wounds all over my body,” she wrote. “She would then put the ground pepper all over the wounds.” The terror of that routine was so intense that Tope says she “would run like a mad person because of the pain.” 

Born Temitope Mayegun Alabi in Lagos, she rose to prominence in the gospel music world with powerful songs and soundtracks. But behind the acclaim lies a story of childhood suffering. The incident of maltreatment, she disclosed, came at a time when she was living away from her immediate family and under the responsibility of her elder sister. In her account she confessed that she “almost lost my sanity” because of the severity and regularity of the abuse. 

Tope Alabi also shared the reason she had kept the story private for many years: she believed the Holy Spirit was now prompting her to speak. It was only now, she stated, that she felt compelled to reveal how she survived the trauma. At the same time, she used her testimony to issue a warning to parents and guardians, urging them to keep children close and never to leave them in the care of others without oversight. 

Despite her painful past, Tope credits her faith and maternal support for the stability she eventually found. Her mother, she says, backed her career in gospel music even though other family members were less supportive. She revealed that growing up, her mother enforced very strict rules like checking her virginity every three months before marriage, and separating her from male siblings when bathing. 

For fans and followers of Tope Alabi, the revelation adds a new layer of respect for her resilience. What started as a vulnerable confession now serves as a reminder of how early trauma can inform a life of purpose and music.