Veteran actress and producer Azeezat Shorunmu. Known for her captivating screen presence and distinctive voice, Azeezat recently opened up about the life-altering incident that forever changed the way she speaks—a story of sudden loss, emotional trauma, and an unexpected rebirth of identity.
For years, Azeezat Shorunmu graced Nigerian screens with a voice that was unmistakably hers. Whether playing a loving mother, a fierce heroine, or a comic relief, her vocal delivery was a key part of her artistry. But in a cruel twist of fate, that very voice was taken from her in a single, devastating moment on set.
The incident occurred during the production of the movie Apase. On the morning filming was set to begin, tragedy struck—beloved actress Surutu, who was also part of the production, suffered the unimaginable loss of her child.
Azeezat, upon hearing the heartbreaking news, was overcome with shock and grief. In a moment of raw, unfiltered emotion, she let out a piercing scream—a scream so intense that it damaged her vocal cords beyond repair.
“Everyone knows that this is not my real voice,” Azeezat confessed during her emotional interview on Oyinmomo TV. “It happened while shooting the movie ‘Apase’. Mummy Surutu lost her child that very morning we were to commence shooting. And she had already been paid. I was confused and didn’t know what to do upon hearing the news. It was when I was shouting that I lost my voice.”
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Initially, Azeezat thought her voice would return after a few days, as is common with temporary vocal strain. But as weeks turned into months, reality set in—her voice was not coming back.
For four agonizing months, she struggled with the terrifying possibility of never speaking normally again. “My voice was blocked throughout the production,” she recalled. “Normally, a blocked throat lasts for a short period. But mine did not open; it became worse after four months. That was when I realized that it was a painful thing to be dumb. It hurts when you want to express yourself, but you cannot.”
Desperate for a solution, Azeezat explored every avenue—medical treatments, spiritual interventions, and even traditional remedies. She used anointing oil, sought prayers, and consulted specialists, but none could restore her original voice.
When her voice finally returned, it was not the one she had known all her life. Instead, it emerged as a raspy, strained version of itself.
“By the time the vocal cord was through, it didn’t come out as my voice again. It became this tiny and cracked voice,” she said
