Tekno refunded over $1 million in show bookings after throat infection
Afrobeats star Tekno has revealed that a throat infection cost him over a million dollars in lost booking fees. In a recent interview on Cool FM, the singer shared that between 2017 and 2019, he struggled with a throat swelling that made it impossible to sing or perform, ultimately forcing him to travel to the United States for surgery.
According to the singer, songwriter, and music producer, the moment was a defining and challenging one as it happened when he was at the peak of his career. "I was refunding so much money. I think I refunded over a million dollars in shows," Tekno said, narrating how he was forced to cancel bookings and also spend his own money fulfilling booking obligations after he had to pay a high cost for the surgery. “I was refunding over a million dollars worth of shows. That was dark.”
Tekno’s search for the right doctor took him to New York
Speaking on the process of getting the surgery done, the musician revealed that he had to travel the world to find the right doctor and ended up in New York because he couldn't get the required standard in Nigeria. Years ago, Tekno lost his voice after severe acid reflux damaged his vocal cords, forcing him to cancel shows, undergo surgery in New York, and step away from music at a career-defining moment.
Similar health challenges faced by other famous artists
Tekno's ordeal with throat illness is one of the health challenges that has adversely impacted some famous stars at certain points in their careers. In 2011, British singer Adele was forced to cancel her North American tour to undergo laser microsurgery for a haemorrhaged vocal cord. Grammy-winning star John Mayer also had to undergo surgery in 2011 to remove a granuloma from his vocal cords, which forced him into a lengthy hiatus that resulted in a complete alteration of his singing style.
Rising above challenges gave Tekno a new perspective
For Tekno, being able to rise beyond the challenges offered him a different perspective in life as he learnt to be grateful and appreciative of being able to still make music. In his interview on Cool FM, the hitmaker, who is one of the stars that dominated the 2010s with a collection of mega hit songs, spoke about his latest album 'Where Did Love Go.' The 8-track EP packs his signature genre-blending and melodies that shape his songs.
