Popular Nigerian singer, Iyanya Onoyom Mbuk, known by his stage name, Iyanya, has recounted how he almost ended it all after he became bankrupt.
The Kukere hit-maker said he lost his house in 2020, and was staying in a hotel but couldn’t afford the hotel bills anymore at some point.
Iyanya opened up on his past struggles when he featured on a recent episode of the Tea With Tay podcast hosted by Temisan Emmanuel Ahwieh.
Iyanya recalls almost committing suicide after going bankrupt 3 years ago
According to Iyanya, his brankruptcy happened around the same period he was taken to court by his former management, Temple Management Company, for allegedly “stealing” a car belonging to the company.
He said; “I was in court for a long time, I didn’t do shows. I couldn’t do anything. You know, when you stopped doing show, you now have to fall back on your savings. But when you are popping, that inflow [of money] is different, the way you spend is different from the way you spend whatever you saved. So, I felt it.
“I got to a point where I was like, mehn, I need to start touring. That was a crazy period for me. Guess what, two days after my last court case, COVID-19 started. I was stalked. I was in a hotel. My house was gone. I was in the hotel for a very long time. It got to one point, I couldn’t pay for the hotel bills anymore.
“The owner of the hotel is such a great human being. I have never seen a such an amazing human being like that. He allowed me stay there. His name is Alaba. He allowed me stay there for over a year. COVID literally caught up with me there.
So, imagine not doing shows. Not touring for over a year, no inflow, and you are in court for the whole year. And then finally, it’s looking like the court case is finishing, the lockdown. I was in that hotel throughout the lockdown. I almost committed suicide. The manager stopped me one time. All of that stuff. Madness, man.”