Nigerian Afrobeats star Stanley Omah Didia, popularly known as Omah Lay, has opened up about how his brief incarceration in Uganda in 2020 profoundly impacted his life and music career.
Omah Lay and fellow Nigerian artist Tems were arrested in December 2020 for performing at a concert at Speke Resort, Kampala, which violated Uganda’s COVID-19 social distancing regulations. The two were detained in prison for three days before being granted bail and eventually released.
In a recent interview with Amazon Music, Omah Lay recounted the harrowing experience and its lasting effects on his outlook. “After being in that cell for three days, I just love my freedom so much now that I fight for it with every record,” Omah Lay shared, reflecting on how the experience deepened his appreciation for personal freedom.
The ‘Soso’ crooner added, “I don’t want to give Uganda so much credit for locking me up, but that shifted my perspective about freedom.” This newfound perspective has since become a central theme in his music, influencing the lyrics and messages in his songs.
