Renowned Nollywood actress and producer Azeezat Shorunmu has opened up about the heartbreaking incident that left her with a permanently damaged voice — a defining change that fans have come to recognize as her trademark raspy tone.

In a recent interview on Oyinmomo TV, Azeezat recounted how the shocking news of fellow actress Mummy Surutu’s child passing away on the morning of a movie shoot forever altered her vocal cords.

“Everyone knows this is not my real voice,” she shared emotionally. “It happened while shooting the movie Apase. Mummy Surutu lost her child that very morning we were to start filming. She had already been paid. I was confused and didn’t know what to do when I heard the news. It was while shouting that I lost my voice.”

Azeezat explained that the intense scream caused severe strain to her vocal cords. Although she expected her voice to recover, it never did.

“Normally, when your throat is blocked, it opens after a while. But mine didn’t. It got worse after four months. That was when I realised how painful it is to be unable to speak. It hurts so much when you want to express yourself but you cannot.”

In her desperation, she sought both medical and spiritual remedies, even turning to anointing oil. Despite all efforts, her voice returned in a new form — permanently raspy and unlike her original sound.

“By the time the vocal cord healed, my voice didn’t come back the same. It came back tiny and cracked,” she added.

While many fans initially wondered about her unique tone, Azeezat says she has since accepted her voice as part of her story — a reminder of resilience and a testament to her dedication to her craft.