Nigerian singer Teni made a surprising revelation during a recent interview on the Zero Conditions Podcast.
She shared that she abstained from alcohol and did not smoke until 2021, despite having been in the music industry for years.
The revelation came after she declined an offer for a drink from one of the hosts.
When questioned, she explained that she only started drinking in 2021 and found it easy to abstain.
She began, “I began drinking in 2021. I’m a naturally adventurous person. I’ve been in this industry for six years without drinking or smoking. I started drinking for fun, and the first time was in Lagos.
“At home, I thought, ‘You guys are always getting drunk, what does it feel like? Let me just try it.’ So, I drank Henny, but I didn’t get drunk. I was waiting for it to happen, but it didn’t, so I just went to sleep. Everybody was like, ‘Aaah, Teni.'”
Teni went on to say that she abstained from alcohol even while attending the University of Georgia in the United States, where there was constant pressure to do so.
“I didn’t drink while I was in school. Do you know what school I went to? The University of Georgia, it’s a football school, and there’s a lot of pressure to drink, but I didn’t. I only ever do what I want to do. In all the videos and skits where I hold a cup, it’s usually juice or water,” the singer added.
Teni was diagnosed with a potentially fatal throat infection in July 2023, which resulted in temporary voice loss.
She decided to stop drinking and avoid anything that could endanger her singing voice after undergoing surgery and spending time in the hospital in September 2023.
