Michael Kiwanuka has announced a new album called ‘FUDGE’ while revealing that he suffered a stroke earlier this year and is currently undergoing rehabilitation.
The singer-songwriter shared the news in a letter posted to Instagram, explaining that the health problems he has experienced over recent months could have seriously affected his ability to continue making music.
“I’m very happy to be announcing to you my new album FUDGE,” he wrote. “I’m especially happy because the last few months I’ve been battling some health problems which would heavily hinder and get in the way of me making music for the foreseeable future.”
Kiwanuka went on to reveal that he suffered a stroke a few months ago after a bleed on his brain, which he said was brought on by high blood pressure.
He explained that the resulting brain injury was “quite severe” and that he still faces significant rehabilitation before he can contemplate a return to touring.
“It’s a long, tough journey ahead but I’m fighting to get better,” he said, adding that the past few months had been difficult but that he now feels he is making progress.
Kiwanuka also thanked NHS staff and the medical professionals who have cared for him throughout his recovery, as well as his friends, family and team.
He said he remains unsure when he will be able to return to the road or what performing will look like when he does, but told fans that he was looking forward to seeing them “further down the road”.
The announcement sheds new light on Kiwanuka’s decision to cancel all of his remaining live shows last summer.
At the time, his team said that “continued illness” and advice from doctors meant he would be unable to perform at a number of planned festival appearances, including All Together Now, Sziget, Pukkelpop, We Out Here and Victorious.
He was also forced to pull out of a run of North American shows supporting Mumford & Sons.
Kiwanuka has not yet shared full details of ‘FUDGE’, with his Instagram post promising that there will be “more news” about the record tomorrow (September 24).
It will follow his fourth album ‘Small Changes’, which arrived in November 2024 and saw him reunite with longtime collaborators Danger Mouse and Inflo.
Speaking to NME around the release of the album, Kiwanuka described the record as a deliberately more understated response to the expansive sound of its predecessor.
In a four-star review of ‘Small Changes’, NME praised its “heartfelt soul music” and wrote that “the softness of its approach does nothing to lessen the impact of Kiwanuka’s long-awaited return”.
His previous album, 2019’s ‘KIWANUKA’, went on to win the Mercury Prize in 2020.
More recently, Kiwanuka appeared on the title track of Little Simz’s 2025 album ‘Lotus’, alongside Yussef Dayes.
