Spiritual warfare: 9ice speaks on embracing Ifa after mysterious illness

Nigerian singer, Alexander Adegbola Akande, popularly known as 9ice, has opened up about a life-threatening ordeal he describes as a “spiritual attack” that lasted for six months.

Speaking on a recent episode of The Nancy Isime Show, the ‘Gongo Aso’ crooner revealed that the mysterious affliction began in 2009 and continued into 2010, during which he reportedly vomited blood for half a year.

9ice claimed that the condition was not medical in nature and that it defied conventional treatment. According to the artist, he only began to recover after he was referred to an Ifa priest.

“When I was vomiting blood for about six months in my own house, I had to leave. It wasn’t a medical condition,” he stated.
“The first time I experienced ifa was when I was vomiting blood. Someone referred me, and I just wished I had known ifa earlier.”

The singer disclosed that he no longer identifies as either Christian or Muslim, but rather as a traditionalist. He referred to himself as a Babalawo—a Yoruba term for a high priest in traditional African religion.

“I’m not a Christian or a Muslim, I’m a Babalawo. I’m an African. I’m a traditionalist,” he declared, expressing regret for not embracing his roots sooner.
“Fela used to go to Ogun and people mocked him, but now I understand.”

In the interview, when asked whether he had encountered spiritual battles during his career, 9ice responded affirmatively, saying he had faced such challenges “several times.”

The gangan’ aso crooner ended by urging Africans to embrace their indigenous religions, stating that his healing and spiritual clarity came only after reconnecting with traditional African beliefs, customs and traditions.

However, 9ice’s revelation has continued to stirr mixed reactions online, particularly as the artist now publicly distances himself from mainstream religions in favour of African traditional spirituality.