Media personality Chude Jideonwo has disclosed that he has a medical condition called Tourette syndrome.
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that Tourette syndrome is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by involuntary tics, which are sudden, repetitive movements or sounds. There is no known cure, but symptoms can be managed through behavioural therapy and medication in some cases.
Speaking in an interview with BBC News Africa, Jideonwo addressed the stigma surrounding the disorder, particularly in, Africa where awareness remains low.
He stated that it is a condition that can leave the body feeling “out of control.”
Jideonwo said he was initially advised to keep his diagnosis private.
“When I was diagnosed, my doctor warned me not to talk about it in public, that people were going to judge me, especially in Africa. That made me sad, but it also shows why people are not speaking out about it,” he said.
The 41-year-old said he began to notice symptoms in his late twenties and has since developed ways to manage them.
“I began to notice Tourette’s in my late 20s. It feels like your body misfires, like it is out of your control in physical ways.
“The movement tics, the vocal tics. Mine is mild. I tend to repeat words constantly.
“I manage it by holding myself under pressure. If I’m in public and not speaking, it’s because I’m holding myself back, using my entire mind to control it.
“The other way is to say it out loud. Once I do, people understand, and the embarrassment reduces,” he said.
He also criticised how Tourette’sourette syndrome is portrayed in Nigerian films, saying such depictions often reinforce harmful stereotypes.
“If you watch Nigerian movies, people with Tourette’s are usually portrayed as demon-possessed or as if something is wrong with them,” he said.
Jideonwo recalled an incident at the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards involving activist John Davidson, who involuntarily shouted a racial slur, an act later linTourette’sourette syndrome.
“It broke my heart. It showed how much work still needs to be done,” he said.
He added that seeing Billie Eilish speak publicly about the condition encouraged him to be more open.
“I saw Billie Eilish talk about it, and that made me comfortable. Now I talk about it everywhere.
“I’ve written about it in my book and articles. Visibility is the primary contribution I can make to normalising it, especially for young people,” he said.