Veteran Nigerian disc jockey, Oluwaforijimi Amu, popularly known as DJ Jimmy Jatt, has shared his harrowing experience of battling chronic kidney disease and temporarily losing his sight.
Speaking in an interview on Channels TV’s Rubbin’ Minds with Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, the iconic DJ recounted how his health struggles began in 2020, just as he was planning to explore life outside Nigeria.
“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,” he said.
However, in 2020, he began experiencing severe health challenges. Due to global travel restrictions at the time, he remained in Nigeria but later lost his sight, forcing him to undergo surgery to regain it.
After recovering from the surgery, DJ Jimmy Jatt relocated to the United States, but while there, he was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease and had to undergo dialysis for some time.
“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 took time off to fully recover before leaving the country again,” he explained.
Despite his health struggles, DJ Jimmy Jatt continued performing across America and Europe, before finally deciding to return to Nigeria in December 2024.
Addressing misconceptions about kidney disease, the DJ dismissed the notion that lifestyle choices such as smoking or excessive alcohol consumption are always responsible.
“I’ve never smoked and had long stopped drinking alcohol,” he clarified, attributing his health condition to diabetes instead.
He stressed the importance of health awareness and early medical intervention in preventing severe complications like kidney failure.
