Nigerian singer 9ice has revealed that a life-threatening spiritual battle he faced in 2009/2010 changed the course of his life and pushed him toward African traditional spirituality.
Speaking during a recent episode of The Nancy Isime Show, the music star opened up about a mysterious illness that lasted six months, during which he continuously vomited blood—an ordeal that, according to him, was not medical but deeply spiritual.
When host Nancy Isime asked, “Would you say you’ve experienced spiritual battles while doing music?”
9ice replied,
“Several times.”Pressed further, she asked, “What’s that one spiritual battle you went through that you thought you would not get out of?”
To which 9ice responded:
“When I was vomiting blood for about six months in my own house. I had to leave my house. It happened in 2009/2010. It wasn’t a medical condition.”
The singer explained that it was only after he was introduced to Ifa—a Yoruba traditional spiritual system—that he found healing. That experience marked the beginning of his journey into traditionalism.
“I’m not a Christian or a Muslim, I’m a Babalawo. I’m an African. I’m a traditionalist,” he said.
“The first time I experienced Ifa was when I was vomiting blood. Someone referred me to Ifa. I just wished that I had known Ifa at the beginning.”
9ice also expressed admiration for late Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, who, despite public ridicule, embraced African spirituality unapologetically.
“Fela used to go to Ogun and people were mocking him, but now, I understand,” he added.
The singer’s testimony has sparked conversations about the role of spirituality in the music industry and the growing visibility of traditional African belief systems.
