NIGERIA: An Exclusive With Afrobeat Star Tekno
23 January 2020
Nigerian artist Augustine Kelechi, popularly known as Tekno is on a mission to become the biggest Afropop star in the world. The artist has been a beacon of Afrobeat thanks to his vibrant bangers. Since his major breakout single “Duro” in 2015, the star has become a powerhouse, conjuring airwaves globally.
However, in 2018, Tekno disappeared from the music scene due to a vocal chord impairment. He sought treatment in the United Kingdom, not to be heard of in months. Soon after, Tekno went online to confirm that he had been battling a health condition which had an impact on his vocal cords.
He narrates problems both financially, physically and emotionally that would soon follow. The singer suffered Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease which affected his ability to sing (and to some extent, talk). “I couldn’t move, I couldn’t sneeze, I couldn’t laugh, I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t do nothing at all… at this time now, there’s metal inside of me”, says Tekno, adding, “This is already four months of no work, no recording, no performance, just spending money from hospital to hospital, doctor to doctor”.
“I called my mom and said, ‘Look, this is what someone told me,’ My mom started to cry, I don’t know, maybe she thought I was going to do it. At this time when I was talking to my mom on the phone, it was extremely hard to talk”.
Since getting back on his feet, Tekno tells me, “eating food every day and enjoying life, travelling and having fun” is what he has been up to.
The recording artist has also been releasing loads of dope music. Speaking on his new stint “Suru”, he narrates the term basically spells out patience as being a virtue no matter your position in life. “Just basically enjoy your life and stress less and just be happy.” “Hoping y’all enjoying and vibing to it”, he adds.
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