Renowned Nigerian disc jockey, Oluwaforijimi Amu, popularly known as DJ Jimmy Jatt, has revealed his battle with health challenges, including losing his sight in 2020.
In a candid conversation during an appearance on Channels TV’s Rubbin’ Minds, hosted by Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, he shared his journey, which also saw him diagnosed with chronic kidney disease.
The ‘Stylee’ crooner explained that his health struggles began after he made the decision to travel more extensively in 2019, seeking to experience life outside Nigeria.
He had spent most of his life in Lagos and was eager to explore other parts of the world. However, in 2020, he encountered serious health issues.
Due to the pandemic’s travel restrictions, he remained in Nigeria, where he lost his sight and underwent surgery to restore his vision.
After recovering, he moved to the U.S. with plans to continue living abroad, but during his stay, he was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease.
He said, “Maybe I caused it myself because, in 2019, I decided to spend more time outside Nigeria. I had lived all my life in Lagos and wanted to explore other parts of the world—Europe, America, everywhere.
“But in 2020, I started experiencing health issues. Due to the travel restrictions at the time, I remained in Nigeria. I lost my sight and had to undergo surgery to regain it. After recovering, I felt the need to stick to my plan of living elsewhere for a while, so I relocated to the U.S. While there, I was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease.
“I stayed in the U.S. for a while and was on dialysis. Eventually, I returned to Nigeria and underwent a kidney transplant. After the procedure, I chose to take time off to fully recover. Once I was discharged, I left Nigeria again.
“Even while abroad, I continued DJing across America and Europe. However, I decided it was time to return home, so I came back to Nigeria in December.”
In discussing the causes of kidney disease, DJ Jimmy Jatt noted that lifestyle choices are not always responsible.
“I’ve never smoked and had long stopped drinking alcohol,” he said.
He attributed his condition to diabetes, highlighting the importance of health awareness and effective management.
