Afrobeats star Tekno has revealed that a serious throat condition forced him to cancel performances and refund more than $1 million in booking fees during a difficult period in his career.
Nigerian singer and producer Tekno has spoken openly about the health challenge that disrupted his career between 2017 and 2019, saying the condition left him unable to sing and eventually required surgery in the United States.
Tekno recounts a difficult period
In a recent interview on Cool FM, Tekno explained that a swelling in his throat affected his ability to perform at a time when his music career was thriving.
The singer described the experience as one of the darkest moments of his career because he had to cancel several booked performances and return large sums of money to organisers.
“I was refunding so much money. I think I refunded over a million dollars in shows,” Tekno said.
“I was refunding over a million dollars worth of shows. That was dark.”
According to Tekno, the illness made it impossible for him to meet his performance obligations, even as he also faced the financial burden of paying for treatment and surgery.
Surgery in the United States
Tekno revealed that he travelled to the United States for surgery after seeking medical help for the condition. He explained that he searched for a specialist capable of handling the procedure and eventually underwent treatment in New York.
The Afrobeats star said the period gave him a new perspective on life and his career, as he learned to appreciate the opportunity to continue making music after recovering from the condition.
Tekno’s experience mirrors similar health challenges faced by other musicians whose vocal problems affected their careers.
British singer Adele underwent surgery for a vocal cord haemorrhage in 2011, while John Mayer also underwent vocal cord surgery the same year, leading to a lengthy break from performing.
Now recovered, Tekno has continued his music career and recently spoke about his latest project, Where Did Love Go, an eight-track EP that showcases his signature blend of melodies and genre-crossing sound.
The revelation has sparked conversations among fans about the physical demands of live performance and the importance of vocal health for artists in the music industry.
