Nigerian music icon Alexander Adegbola Akande, popularly known as 9ice, stunned fans and critics alike by sharing a harrowing experience that almost ended his life.
During a recent episode of The Nancy Isime Show, 9ice opened up about a mysterious affliction in 2009/2010, when he vomited blood persistently for six months.
The veteran singer insists it was a spiritual attack not a medical condition that threatened his existence.
Defying Medical Explanation
9ice recounted how every hospital visit and medical test failed to uncover the source of his health decline.
“It wasn’t a medical condition,” he emphasized, highlighting the frustration of facing an ailment with no scientific explanation.
Despite extensive diagnoses, the bleeding persisted relentlessly, ultimately forcing him to leave his home for a period.
Furthermore, the singer pointed out the helplessness he felt during this ordeal.
Medical professionals reportedly could offer no solution, leaving him vulnerable and desperate.
It was at this low point that 9ice sought alternative intervention turning to the Yoruba traditional system of divination known as Ifa.
Turning to Ifa: The Path to Healing
According to 9ice, the intervention of a traditionalist specifically a Babalawo (Ifa priest) initiated his restoration.
He revealed that the Yoruba divination system became his lifeline and eventually healed him where modern medicine failed.
Reflecting on this moment, the singer expressed regret, saying, “I just wished that I had known Ifa at the beginning.”
9ice’s embrace of Ifa signifies a profound spiritual identity shift.
He declared bluntly, “I’m not a Christian or a Muslim, I’m a Babalawo. I’m an African.
I’m a traditionalist.” This bold statement challenges Nigeria’s dominant religious narratives and affirms indigenous spirituality as a legitimate path.
Criticism and Cultural Controversy
The admission is bound to provoke controversy within Nigeria’s often polarized religious landscape.
Rejecting mainstream religions openly can alienate followers of Christianity and Islam.
Yet, 9ice insists on reclaiming African spirituality without fear or shame.
He referenced late Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti’s revered yet mocked devotion to Ogun the traditional god of iron and war to justify his stanc.
“Fela used to go to Ogun and people were mocking him, but now, I understand.”
9ice implies that the ridicule of African traditions is rooted in ignorance and colonial legacy, not truth.
A Call to Reconnect with African Roots
The singer used his platform to advocate for the revival and respect of African traditional religions.
He lamented the widespread demonization of indigenous beliefs and urged Africans to rediscover their ancestral heritage.
“It’s time we stopped demonising our own.
Our ancestors were not evil. We need to embrace who we truly are,” 9ice stated, challenging Nigerians to overcome spiritual alienation.
This call touches on long-standing cultural conflicts where African traditions are often dismissed or labeled as backward or satanic.
9ice’s position fuels ongoing debates about identity, spirituality, and cultural pride.
Personal Growth Amid Spiritual Turmoil
9ice’s narrative exposes the limits of modernity in satisfying deep-rooted existential and spiritual crises, especially among Africans.
His experience suggests that spiritual healing traditions, rooted in centuries-old wisdom, may hold answers that contemporary institutions overlook or reject.
The artist’s journey from suffering to spiritual awakening frames a larger story about cultural resilience and authenticity.
By choosing traditionalism, 9ice has aligned himself with a growing movement rejecting colonial influences and seeking African empowerment through indigenous knowledge systems.
Public Reaction: Divided Opinions
Following the episode, social media and public forums exploded with mixed reactions.
Some praised 9ice’s courage and honesty in discussing sensitive spiritual matters.
They see his embracing of traditional religion as a revolutionary step toward African self-assertion.
Others criticized the singer for undermining Christianity or Islam, accusing him of promoting superstition or backwardness.
Skeptics question whether 9ice’s story might fuel misunderstanding or division in a country already burdened by religious tension.
The Larger Spiritual Context in Nigeria
Nigeria’s religious landscape is complex and sensitive.
With Christianity and Islam as dominant faiths, traditional African religion occupies a precarious position, often practiced in secret or syncretized with mainstream religions.
9ice’s public declaration pushes the conversation into the open, forcing society to confront cultural taboos and acknowledge the diversity of spiritual experiences.
His testimony reveals how many Nigerians navigate overlapping religious identities and unresolved spiritual conflicts.
What Can Nigerians Learn
Beyond controversy lies an invitation to rethink identity and healing.
9ice’s story encourages Nigerians to examine not only religious affiliations but also the meaning of health, suffering, and cultural heritage.
His ordeal suggests that dismissing indigenous knowledge systems outright may blind society to alternative solutions and deeper understandings of self and community.
A Provocative Challenge to Nigeria’s Spiritual Status Quo
Alexander Adegbola Akande’s revelations about his ‘spiritual attack’ and subsequent healing serve as a powerful critique of Nigerian society’s neglect of indigenous spirituality.
His journey questions modern medicine’s limits and calls for a rediscovery of African traditions long vilified or marginalized.
9ice’s stance confronts social taboos, religious orthodoxies, and cultural amnesia.
Whether hailed as brave or controversial, his story demands attention and sparks critical dialogue on Nigeria’s spiritual identity.
For WahalaUpdate readers, this is more than a celebrity confession; it’s a call to action a challenge to reconsider what “healing” and “faith” truly mean on the African continent.
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