Nigerian rapper Ycee has opened up about his six-year battle with bipolar disorder, a journey that began with a 2020 diagnosis in London. He recently revealed how the condition, coupled with a severe shortage of mental health professionals in Nigeria, significantly impacted his creative process and music career.
A Hidden Struggle Amidst Lockdown
For Ycee, whose legal name is Oludemilade Martin Alejo, the path to understanding his mental health began during the global pandemic. While residing in London in 2020, he experienced a series of health challenges that eventually led to his diagnosis.
“I was in and out of hospital and went through different diagnoses before we arrived at that.”
Ycee, via The Nation
The diagnosis forced a pivot in his life, one that he admits he was unprepared for. Before 2020, mental health was not a topic he had engaged with, and the transition into treatment proved to be a multi-year process. He described the experience as a very long six years
marked by fluctuating moods where some days felt manageable while others felt really dark.
Barriers to Care in the Nigerian Healthcare System
After visa restrictions necessitated his return to Lagos, Ycee encountered significant obstacles in maintaining his treatment regimen. He has been vocal about the disparity between the mental health support systems he witnessed in the United Kingdom and the resources available in Nigeria. As LEADERSHIP Newspapers noted, the rapper highlighted a critical lack of qualified personnel, including psychiatrists and psychologists, which he believes makes it difficult for patients to receive timely and adequate care.
“I was supposed to continue treatment in Lagos, but that was where I saw how much of a challenge it is to deal with that kind of condition. There was a serious lack of personnel.”
Ycee, via LEADERSHIP Newspapers
In his interview with Arise TV, reported by Thenationonlineng, Ycee expressed concern that the mental health sector in Nigeria remains severely underserved. He pointed out that while London offered accessible helplines and visible support during the height of the Covid-19 crisis, those same structures are largely absent or inaccessible in Lagos. He emphasized that this is not just a personal struggle but a reflection of a broader national crisis regarding the availability of quality healthcare.
Impact on Creativity and the Industry Stigma
The toll of the condition extended beyond his health, directly affecting the rapper’s professional output. He admitted that his 2021 project, Love Drunk, did not receive the promotion it deserved because of his state of mind at the time.
Beyond the creative block, Ycee has spoken out against the societal stigma that complicates life for those living with mental health issues. He noted that many people in Nigeria dismiss depression and similar conditions as a big man’s disease,
a misconception he is actively trying to challenge. By using his platform, he aims to break the silence surrounding these topics, despite facing skepticism from some members of the public.
“Where a lot of people think that when you are depressed, it is a big man’s disease, there’s a lot of stigma around it. Recently, people have been asking me why I have been speaking about this.”
Ycee, via ng.headtopics.com
As of late 2024, Ycee noted that he has begun to feel more like himself again, describing the last few years as a period of trying to rediscover his identity after the diagnosis altered the course of his life. While acknowledging that the person he was before the condition may not fully return, he remains focused on looking forward, using his public voice to advocate for greater mental health awareness and improved medical infrastructure in the country.
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