Kenyan comedian Mannerson Akuku, popularly known as Akuku Danger, recently shared a raw and detailed account of his brush with death. Speaking on the Tubonge podcast with host Chris the Bass, the entertainer described the afterlife as a place of profound calm.
Akuku Danger is a household name in the Kenyan comedy scene. During the interview, he clarified that his stage name is not just a moniker. It is his biological name, inherited from his grandfather.
His grandfather was the legendary polygamist who reportedly had 266 wives and over 500 children. The comedian is grandchild number 1,666.
The Battle with Sickle Cell
The comedian has lived his entire life as a Sickle Cell Warrior. Sickle cell is an inherited blood disorder that affects red blood cells. He was diagnosed at the age of seven.
Frequent hospital visits defined his childhood. He spent more time in wards than playing with other children.
“I just don’t want to have kids because my childhood was very traumatic. Because I spent most of the time in hospitals that actually playing with fellow kids,” he stated.
Between December 2021 and June 2022, he was hospitalized for nearly a year. It was during this period that he believes he experienced the "other side."
"I stayed in hospitalfrom more than a year, and at some point, I genuinely think I had left. Death is actually very peaceful. I’m not saying this to be speculative, but this is my story. It reached a point I actually died,” he said.
What Death Looks Like
During the podcast, Akuku Danger described a near-death experience that changed his perspective on existence. He recounted a phenomenon known as astral projection. He felt his consciousness leave his physical body.
From a different realm, he watched doctors and loved ones gathered around his hospital bed. He described the sensation as "gliding through spaces and the universe."
There was no pain or fear during the transition. Instead, he felt an overwhelming sense of quiet and calm.
Waking Up to a Blank Slate
When he eventually "came back," the comedian faced a long recovery. He initially suffered from total memory loss. He could not remember how he arrived at the hospital. He did not even recognise his own father or sister at first.
He likened his mind at that moment to a "tabula rasa"—a completely blank slate. This experience led him to stop worrying about things he cannot control. He now focuses on living one day at a time.
"When you’re dying, you’re actually at peace. It’s only the people who are alive who feel the pain. I was able to leave my body so that I can watch it from a different realm. I could actually see people over my body at the hospital, but myself I was at peace,” he added.
A Difficult Decision
The trauma of his health struggles led to a major life decision. Akuku Danger revealed he has undergone a vasectomy. He made this choice because he does not want to pass the sickle cell gene to a child.
He recalled seeing the "deeply broken" looks on his parents' faces during his many crises. He decided he would rather enjoy life with his partner than risk a child going through the same traumatic childhood he endured.
The Cost of Survival
The comedian is now an advocate for better sickle cell care in Kenya. He highlighted the financial burden of the disease.
Akuku Danger is currently working on establishing a dedicated centre for sickle cellpatients. He hopes to create a facility similar to specialised cancer centres to provide affordable drugs and blood transfusions for "warriors" across the country.
