Nigerian singer Flavour has candidly opened up about his past struggle with a severe addiction to masturbation, which lasted for more than two years after he lost his virginity at the age of 24.
During a recent TikTok live session, the 42-year-old artist revealed that the addiction took root when he was unable to reconnect with the woman he first slept with. With no means of contacting her beyond an unreturned email address and lacking a romantic partner, Flavour said he felt isolated and vulnerable.
He recounted that a neighbour suggested he watch pornography, introducing him to Makoka Kamasutra CDs. This led to a pattern of compulsive masturbation, sometimes up to three times a day. The singer described how the habit began to take a toll on his physical appearance, causing him to lose weight and feel too ashamed to take off his shirt in public.
“I kept going to the cyber café to send emails to the girl I lost my virginity to, hoping for a reply, but she never responded. Eventually, I gave up,” he shared. “I didn’t have a girlfriend or any real romantic experiences apart from childhood crushes. After she disappeared, a guy from my street advised me to try watching those CDs.”
Flavour said he eventually realized the extent of his addiction and sought help. Unable to confide in his family, he turned to his mother’s pastor, who provided him with prayer points, Bible verses, and instructed him to fast for 21 days. However, Flavour admitted that the struggle persisted, even after seeking spiritual guidance.
He recalled relapsing during a performance, running to the restroom to masturbate after seeing women dancing. Later, he confided in an older band member, a Cameroonian bass guitarist, who suggested that his lack of sexual activity was fueling the addiction. The bandmate then took Flavour to a brothel and arranged for his performance earnings to pay for visits with sex workers, which eventually helped him overcome the habit.
Reflecting on his experience, Flavour remarked, “Those women were the ones who taught me how to have sex. After that, I stopped masturbating. Back then, if I had seen blessed anointing oil, I probably would have used it as lubricant.”
Flavour’s openness follows similar revelations from other Nigerian celebrities. Recently, actress Tonto Dikeh discussed her own struggles with sexual immorality, including masturbation and recurring sexual dreams from childhood. She credits her Christian faith with helping her overcome her challenges.
