Nigerian rapper and singer Oludemilade Martin Alejo, popularly known as YCee, has shared a vulnerable account of his intense battles with mental health, revealing a formal diagnosis during the 2020 global lockdown. Speaking during a recent episode of the Afropolitan podcast, the hip-hop artist disclosed that his severe health challenges were the primary factor behind his multi-year absence from the music scene.
The musician detailed how the sudden diagnosis immediately disrupted his life, forcing him into consecutive hospitalizations in the United Kingdom before he could safely return home to continue his recovery process.
“In 2020, I got diagnosed with a mental health condition during the lockdown. I was in London for six months and was in-and-out of hospital for about three months. I had to return to Nigeria to continue treatment because of the type of Visa I was on.” YCee said.
Visa limitations forced a difficult transition to the local healthcare system
YCee explained that his initial six-month stay in London became unsustainable due to immigration constraints, as his specific visa status meant he could no longer access long-term medical care abroad. Navigating his return to Lagos marked the beginning of a taxing, six-year journey as he integrated into the Nigerian mental health treatment framework.
The singer described the subsequent years as an ongoing cycle of medication, routine therapies, and periodic hospital admissions. Characterizing the recovery process as highly unpredictable, he admitted that while there were periods of positive progress, there were equally moments where things became exceptionally dark. Following his extended commitment to professional treatment, the rapper reassured listeners that he has finally achieved stability.
