Nigerian disc jockey Oluwaforijimi Amu, popularly known as DJ Jimmy Jatt, has shared the intimate details of his struggle with chronic kidney disease, revealing how the diagnosis and subsequent kidney transplant transformed his life.
In a candid interview on Channels TV’s Rubbin’ Minds with Ebuka, DJ Jimmy Jatt opened up about the series of health challenges that began in 2020, starting with a sudden loss of his sight, which ultimately led to a life-altering kidney transplant.
Reflecting on the start of his health journey, the renowned DJ traced the onset of his troubles to his decision to explore life outside Nigeria.
“Maybe I caused it for myself because in 2019, I said that I wanted to spend more time out of the country. I’ve lived all my life in Nigeria, especially Lagos. So, I wanted to explore the world—Europe, America, everywhere,” he shared.
However, his plans to broaden his horizons were quickly disrupted. In 2020, DJ Jimmy Jatt suffered from a severe loss of vision, leading to a surgical procedure that helped restore his sight.
But despite recovering his eyesight, his health continued to decline, eventually leading him to be diagnosed with chronic kidney disease during his time in the United States.
“I lost my sight. I had surgery and regained my sight. After that, I felt I needed to take a break and comply with my plan of living elsewhere for a while.”
“Then I relocated to the U.S. While I was in the U.S, I was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. I was on dialysis there for a while. Eventually, I came back to Nigeria and had a kidney transplant,” he recalled.
DJ Jimmy Jatt’s life was forever changed by the diagnosis. He went through several rounds of dialysis while in the U.S. before returning to Nigeria, where he received a kidney transplant in 2022. Despite the challenges, his strength and resilience during the recovery process stood out.
After the successful transplant, DJ Jimmy Jatt chose to take a step back from the public eye to focus on his recovery.
“After the transplant, I decided to be quiet for a while to recover properly. So, immediately I was discharged, I left Nigeria again. While I was away, I was still DJing in America and Europe, but I decided that it was time to return to Nigeria. So, I came back in December,” he explained.
During his recovery, DJ Jimmy Jatt also sought to clear misconceptions surrounding kidney disease, stressing that lifestyle factors are not always to blame.
He emphasized that in his case, the root cause was diabetes, not smoking or excessive drinking, which are often linked to kidney problems.
“Lifestyle is not always the cause of kidney ailments. I’ve never smoked, and I stopped drinking alcohol a long time ago. In my case, it was caused by diabetes,” he revealed.
Through his openness about his health struggles, DJ Jimmy Jatt has sparked important conversations about kidney disease, encouraging others to be proactive about their health and seek early treatment.
His story of resilience and recovery continues to inspire his fans, many of whom are now more aware of the risks and realities of chronic kidney disease.
DJ Jimmy Jatt’s journey serves as a powerful reminder that health challenges can strike unexpectedly, but with the right support and medical care, recovery is possible.
His decision to share his experience is helping raise awareness and encourage others to prioritize their well-being.
