Mercury Prize-winning musician Michael Kiwanuka has revealed that he suffered a haemorrhagic stroke in July 2025 at age 38, leading to months of hospitalisation and rehabilitation from which he has not yet been able to return home. The incident forced him to abandon his tour schedule and shelve the release of his fifth album, Fudge, marking a significant interruption to what had been a successful period for the introspective singer-songwriter. He is now speaking publicly about his experience for the first time in over a year as he releases the long-delayed album.

Kiwanuka's stroke was caused by high blood pressure of which he was entirely unaware, with no preceding symptoms. He underwent emergency surgery, spent months in intensive care with no memory of the period, and subsequently spent over five months in hospital before moving to a rehabilitation centre in Hampshire, where he remains. His speech remains slow and fragmented as he continues his recovery, with an uncertain rehabilitation trajectory ahead. He has chosen to speak out now partly to raise awareness of stroke risk among Black African males, who face increased susceptibility to high blood pressure, but also to reconnect with his audience after such a prolonged absence.