IN SHORT: A series of photos posted on social media appear to show Nollywood actor Hanks Anuku talking to himself in a dishevelled state, causing the public to wonder if he’s suffering from mental health issues. But the actor says he’s fine and has “been on set".
Nollywood actor Hanks Anuku “runs mad” claims a November 2022 Facebook post.
Anuku is a Nigerian-born Ghanaian actor and TV personality. His movies include Broad Day Light (2001), Bitter Honey (2005) and The Captor (2006).
The post reads: “Popular Nollywood actor Hanks Anuku has been spotted roaming around the street in GRA Benin City appearing to be mentally imbalanced.”
The post includes four photos of the actor, three of him appearing to be talking and smiling to himself as he walks down a street.
The claim was also repeated in other Facebook posts.
Nigerian celebrities are frequently the victims of false rumours. Could the same be true of the 62-year-old actor?
‘I’ve been on set,’ says Anuku
In a video published in Nigeria’s Leadership newspaper on 18 November and elsewhere, Anuku denied rumours of him having mental health issues.
“I just want to let you know that today is the 18th of November 2022, and I’m speaking live from my cabana. Don’t forget it, this is not an old video, this is fresh from the heavens above to the earth below. Find Jesus and leave me alone,” he said.
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Further Reading
Adolescent mental health in South Africa: what do the numbers say?
South African news article’s statistics may be outdated and from another country, but its message rings true.
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The scale of mental illness in the country was “horrific”, according to Classic 105’s Maina Kageni. But do his numbers add up?
Do one in four women in Africa suffer from depression? We checked
Wenzile Madonsela Msimanga tweeted about the prevalence of depression among women in Africa, claiming 1 in 4 women suffer from depression.
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