Nigerian singer Iyanya, born Iyanya Onoyom Mbuk, recently opened up about his struggle with bankruptcy in 2020, which led him to the brink of suicide.
Iyanya shared that he had lost his house and was living in a hotel, but eventually reached a point where he couldn’t afford to pay the hotel bills. During this time, he was also facing a legal battle with his former management company, Temple Management Company, who accused him of stealing a car.
Speaking as a guest on the Tea With Tay podcast hosted by actor Temisan Emmanuel Ahwieh, popularly known as Taymesan, Iyanya recounted the challenging period he went through. He mentioned, “I was in court for a long time, unable to do shows or earn any income. I had to rely on my savings, but the way you spend when you’re popular is different from how you spend your savings. So, I felt the impact.”
“Just two days after my last court case, COVID-19 started, and I was stuck. I was already in a hotel, and I had lost my house. I had been staying at the hotel for a very long time. Eventually, I couldn’t even afford to pay for the hotel bills anymore,” Iyanya added.
He then expressed his gratitude towards the hotel owner, Alaba, who showed incredible kindness by allowing him to stay there for over a year. However, the situation took a toll on Iyanya’s mental health. “I was in that hotel throughout the lockdown. Not being able to perform or tour for over a year, having no income, and dealing with the court case was incredibly challenging. I reached a point where I almost committed suicide, but thankfully, the hotel manager stopped me,” he disclosed.
Iyanya’s heartfelt revelation sheds light on the personal struggles many artists face behind the scenes, emphasizing the importance of mental health support in the entertainment industry.