Nigerian rapper and singer Oludemilade Martin Alejo, popularly known as YCee, has shared deeply personal details about his mental health journey, revealing that he was diagnosed with a mental health condition in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown period.
The ‘Omo Alhaji’ crooner made the revelation during a recent appearance on the Afropolitan podcast, where he spoke openly about how the condition affected both his personal life and music career.
According to YCee, the diagnosis marked a turning point in his life and contributed significantly to his break from the music industry at the time. He explained that he had to pause his career to focus fully on treatment, recovery, and therapy.
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He disclosed that his condition became so serious that he was hospitalised in London for several months.
“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,” he said.
YCee further explained that his health challenges forced him to return to Nigeria to continue treatment due to visa limitations, making his recovery journey even more complicated.
He described the experience as long, difficult, and unpredictable, noting that accessing mental health care in Nigeria added another layer of struggle to his situation.
“I had to return to Nigeria to continue treatment because of the type of visa I was on. Coming back to Lagos and getting into the system of mental health in Nigeria, it was a very very long six years,” he explained.
The rapper revealed that he spent extended periods on medication and continued to undergo therapy while managing repeated hospital visits. He described his condition as fluctuating, with moments of improvement followed by difficult relapses.
“It was up and down. Sometimes it is looking good and sometimes, it just gets really dark,” YCee recalled.
Despite the challenges, YCee expressed gratitude for how far he has come, stating that he is now in a stable condition following consistent treatment and therapy.
His revelation has sparked widespread reactions from fans and fellow artists, many of whom praised him for speaking openly about mental health struggles, especially within the Nigerian entertainment industry where such conversations are often stigmatized.
Mental health awareness has become an increasingly important topic globally, with more celebrities using their platforms to share personal experiences in order to encourage others facing similar challenges.
YCee’s story highlights the importance of early diagnosis, access to proper medical care, and continued emotional support for individuals dealing with mental health conditions.
It also sheds light on the challenges many Nigerians face when seeking mental health treatment, including limited resources, stigma, and accessibility issues.
The rapper’s openness is being seen as a positive step toward reducing stigma and encouraging more conversations around emotional well-being, particularly among young people and creatives.
YCee, who rose to fame with hit songs like ‘Omo Alhaji’, remains one of Nigeria’s prominent hip-hop voices. His journey through fame, illness, and recovery adds a new layer of depth to his public image and artistic story.
As fans continue to react to his revelation, many have expressed admiration for his strength and resilience in navigating such a difficult period while eventually finding stability and healing.
His experience serves as a reminder that mental health struggles can affect anyone, regardless of fame or success, and that seeking help remains a crucial step toward recovery.
