Renowned Afropop artist, Stanley Omah Didia, popularly known as Omah Lay, has shared his harrowing experience of being detained in a Ugandan jail four years ago. The incident occurred when Omah Lay, along with fellow artist Tems, was invited to perform in Uganda in 2020, but the trip took an unexpected turn, leading to their detention and charges.
The Ugandan authorities asserted that the Nigerian artists violated COVID-19 social regulations and laws that were in effect at the time, resulting in their arrest. Despite the challenges they faced, Omah Lay recalled an unexpected source of support during his time in prison—the prison warden, who happened to be a fan of his music.
In a recent interview with The Beat FM, London, the ‘Damn’ hitmaker opened up about the unique bond he formed with the prison warden, describing the experience as fantastic, even though it initially seemed rough. Omah Lay expressed gratitude for the warden’s intervention, revealing that there was a moment when the authorities contemplated shaving his hair, but the warden prevented it from happening.
Reflecting on the ordeal, Omah Lay believes that the negative experience in Uganda played a crucial role in his musical growth. He asserted that despite the challenges, the incident served as a necessary stepping stone for his progression in the music industry. As he continues to make waves with his chart-topping hits, Omah Lay’s journey from adversity in Uganda has become an integral part of his narrative, shaping his artistic resilience and determination.
He said; “My ordeal in Ugandan prison was an amazing time for me. Although it was rough at the moment now looking back at the whole thing, it had to happen. It gave me the relationship I have with Tems and her manager, Muyiwa [Awoniyi] today. He [Muyiwa] was in the same cell with me
“We were in Uganda for a show during the pandemic. We had paperwork to perform but for some reason, we got arrested after performing. And we are sent to jail. We were in jail for two days.
“It was just a very horrible experience. I wouldn’t want anybody to go through that. They were going to cut my hair, I wore a prison uniform. They were so close to cutting my hair but the person who was in charge of the prison was a fan of my music. He got us a nice spot in jail and took care of us.”
