Nigerian singer Augustine Miles Kelechi Okechukwu, popularly known as Tekno, has revealed that he refunded more than $1 million in performance fees after losing his voice, describing the period as one of the darkest moments of his career.

Speaking in an interview with Cool FM, the 33-year-old artiste recounted the financial and emotional toll of developing a vocal condition that forced him to cancel several scheduled performances.

“I was refunding so much money, over $1 million worth, that it was very dark. Even after my surgery, I couldn’t pay for the surgery,” he said.

Tekno explained that his situation improved after he honoured a performance in Cameroon that had been booked a year earlier. According to him, the show earned him about $110,000, although expenses significantly reduced his earnings.

He said the experience changed his outlook on life and taught him to focus on gratitude rather than setbacks.

“For me, I really understand that life is a journey. All of us here, everyone in this room, we are all just experiencing life in our own way. It’s like I could be mad at myself or be mad at God, saying why me, why at the time when I was literally sitting on top of everything and losing my voice,” he said.

“I could focus on that, or I could focus on the fact that happened, and I’m able to still wake up and smile and laugh and then keep doing what I do, which is music.”

In 2018, music executive Ubi Franklin, chief executive officer of Made Men Music Group, confirmed that Tekno would be unable to perform for some time due to temporary damage to his voice box