Thursday, September 23, 2026 - British singer-songwriter Michael Kiwanuka has revealed that he suffered a stroke at 39 after a bleed in his brain was brought on by high blood pressure.
The Grammy-nominated and Mercury Prize-winning artist shared the news while announcing his forthcoming album, Fudge, explaining that he has spent the past few months dealing with serious health problems. Kiwanuka described the brain injury as “quite severe” and said his recovery will involve significant rehabilitation.
The health crisis also forced Kiwanuka to miss several performances this year, including US shows where he had been scheduled to support Mumford & Sons.
He said recovering from the stroke will be a “long, tough journey” and acknowledged that he does not yet know when, or in what capacity, he will be able to return to the road. Despite the setback, the 39-year-old said he is “fighting to get better” and feels he is gradually making progress.
Kiwanuka also thanked NHS staff, medical professionals, friends, family and his wider team for supporting him through what he described as one of the toughest challenges he has faced.
His announcement has prompted messages of support from fellow musicians and entertainers, while attention now turns to his new album, Fudge, which was recorded before the stroke. The singer has indicated that further details about the project will be released soon.
0 Comments