Kemi Afolabi: Buying a Burial Plot and Drafting a Will After a Lupus Diagnosis
Veteran Nollywood actress Kemi Afolabi opened up about her harrowing journey battling lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease that causes the body’s defense system to attack its own tissues and organs, relaying how it drove her to believe she was near death. During a candid interview on Doyin Kukoyi TV, she revealed that at the height of her struggle, she could neither eat nor drink, depended entirely on oxygen, and had even purchased a burial plot and written her will.
Reflecting on that dark chapter, Afolabi said:
“When I was battling Lupus, I truly thought my time had come. I couldn’t eat or drink, and I needed oxygen just to breathe. I had already purchased my burial plot and written my Will, but God decided it wasn’t my time yet. I pulled through by God’s power and the unwavering support of my family, friends, and colleagues.”
She compared the excruciating joint pain from lupus to childbirth, calling lupus “a little” worse, a powerful expression underscoring the severity of her condition. Initial misdiagnoses at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) led to prolonged uncertainty, until she sought treatment abroad and received an accurate diagnosis: lupus.
Afolabi emphasized that lupus has no cure, only lifelong management with medication, and that she now travels abroad periodically for treatment, including daily injections. She also pointed out that bright lights, once part of her acting routine, are no longer bearable.
Why This Story Matters
A Beacon of Resilience: Amid a debilitating diagnosis, Afolabi’s survival speaks to sheer will, faith, and community support.
Raising Lupus Awareness: Her story sheds light on a little-known but serious illness in Nigeria, showing how difficult it can be to diagnose, and how devastating its onset can feel.
Mental and Emotional Toll: The lengths she considered, preparing for her own death, highlight the immense psychological burden chronic illnesses impose.