Tekno Opens Up on Career Setback: ‘People Called Me Lazy’ During Vocal Cord Battle

Afrobeats star Augustine Kelechi, popularly known as Tekno, has spoken candidly about the difficult period that nearly derailed his music career, revealing that many people wrongly believed he had become lazy while he was battling a serious vocal cord condition.

The singer recalled that at the height of his success between 2018 and 2021, he suffered severe vocal cord damage caused by acid reflux. The condition affected his ability to sing and forced him to step away from music for several years, interrupting the momentum of his flourishing career.

Speaking during a recent interview with Cool FM Lagos, Tekno said the experience left him emotionally drained. He admitted that he kept the illness private, even from people closest to him, a decision that led to widespread misunderstandings about his sudden absence from performances and recording sessions.

According to the singer, members of his team and others around him assumed he had simply lost interest in making music because they were unaware of the health challenge he was facing.

“Even the people closest to me were saying that, ‘He is just lazy. He doesn’t want to perform.’ I was in a very dark place,” he said.

Tekno disclosed that the emotional impact of the illness lingered long after he recovered physically. He revealed that he developed a deep dislike for music and only continued recording because he was under contract with Universal Music.

“Even after I recovered, I hated music. I didn’t want to hear music for a long time. I was only forcing myself to do music because I had a deal with Universal,” he explained.

The award-winning artiste said he eventually found a path back to music through personal development, explaining that reading inspirational books helped him heal emotionally and rekindle his passion for making music.

Tekno’s revelation sheds light on the often unseen mental and emotional struggles artists face behind the scenes, while highlighting how health challenges can be mistaken for a lack of commitment or ambition.