Renowned Nigerian disc jockey, Oluwaforijimi Amu, popularly known as DJ Jimmy Jatt, has revealed his battle with chronic kidney disease and the transformative experience of undergoing a kidney transplant.
Speaking on Channels TV’s Rubbin’ Minds with Ebuka Obi-Uchendu, the veteran DJ detailed how his health challenges began in 2020 after he temporarily lost his sight, leading to surgery to restore it.
Recalling the ordeal, DJ Jimmy Jatt disclosed that his health issues coincided with a personal 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 were disrupted by a series of health complications, compounded by the travel restrictions of 2020.
“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 recounted.
The celebrated DJ underwent a successful kidney transplant in 2022. Following the procedure, he deliberately stepped away from the spotlight 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 said.
Addressing common misconceptions surrounding kidney ailments, DJ Jimmy Jatt clarified that lifestyle choices aren’t always the cause.
“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.
