Afrobeats sensation Stanley Omah Didia, known widely as Omah Lay, has shared how his brief imprisonment in Uganda significantly influenced his life and artistic journey. The artist was arrested alongside fellow Nigerian musician Tems in December 2020 after performing at a concert in Uganda during the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to their detention due to the violation of social distancing regulations.
Omah Lay, speaking in a recent interview with Amazon Music, revealed that the experience profoundly shifted his understanding of freedom. The singer spent three days in a Ugandan prison before being granted bail, and during this time, he began to value his freedom on a deeper level.
Reflecting on the impact of the experience, Omah Lay explained:
“After being in that cell for three days, I just love my freedom so much now that I fight for it with every record… I don’t want to give Uganda so much credit for locking me up, but that shifted my perspective about freedom.”
This intense experience has since been a driving force behind his music, influencing the themes and emotions he explores in his songs, such as the hit track “Soso.” Omah Lay’s encounter with the harsh realities of imprisonment has left an indelible mark on him, further fueling his passion for expressing and cherishing freedom through his art.
