Nigerian music star Augustine Kelechi, popularly known as Tekno, has revealed that he was wrongly labelled “lazy” during a difficult period when he battled a serious throat condition that affected his career.
In a recent interview on Cool FM Lagos, the singer said he faced criticism from people close to him who did not understand that he was dealing with severe vocal cord damage caused by acid reflux.
Tekno was at the peak of his career between 2017 and 2019 when the illness left him unable to sing or perform, forcing him into a prolonged break. The condition required surgery in the United States and led to canceled shows and financial losses.
According to him, he initially kept his health struggles private, which led to misconceptions about his work ethic.
“Even the people closest to me were saying I was just lazy and didn’t want to perform,” he said, describing the period as a “very dark place.”
The singer added that he temporarily lost his passion for music and only continued recording due to contractual obligations.
Tekno explained that he later recovered physically but needed time to reconnect emotionally with music. He credited inspirational books for helping him heal mentally and regain his love for his craft.
The Afrobeats star has since returned to music, reflecting on the experience as a defining moment in his career.
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