MARK Ziligone, fondly known as Bishop Nkongolo, the comedian known for exposing the hypocrisy of some self-proclaimed “men of God” in churches, is back to creating online content.
After a quiet spell between February and March, fans were left wondering what was happening.
That was until March 19, when he dropped an emotional message on Facebook, hinting at a tough battle.
“When an entertainer like me goes quiet, just know something isn’t right. We are used to showing up, giving energy, creating moments, and keeping people smiling,” he wrote.
“So, when the noise fades, it’s not by choice, it’s because life is happening behind the scenes. It’s been painful and rough lately, but some battles are better left in the hands of the Lord. I’m holding on, healing, and trusting the process.”
In an exclusive interview, he shared that he was diagnosed with Autoimmune Disease, a condition where one’s immune system attacks healthy cells and tissues, mistaking them for foreign invaders.
With this condition, the immune system, instead of protecting one from germs and other things, it goes out of control and causes inflammation and damage.
“I was not active the entire month of February because I was very ill, to an extent where I could not walk the entire month of February. I didn’t know what the problem was, I was on a wheelchair,” he said.
“I was told to carry out a number of tests.”
Ziligone said he thought he had gout – a type of arthritis that causes sudden, severe joint pain and swelling, usually in the big toe, ankles, or knees.
“At first I thought I had gout… this issue of self -diagnosis, which is very dangerous,” he said.
“…I was taking some pain killers. Pain would go and come back, but sometimes pain killers wouldn’t work. I later found out that I didn’t even have gout,” he disclosed.
He said doctors at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) requested for more tests.
“I found that everything was just okay, not until doctors had to sit at UTH and made a plan for me, they told me to do some more tests, they then diagnosed me with Autoimmune Disease,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ziligone urged members of the public and those in the entertainment industry to avoid self-diagnosis and seek attention from health facilities.
Credit: Zambia Daily Mail
