“The prison warden in Uganda jail was my fan so he helped us” – Omah Lay recounts ordeal
Renowned Afropop artist Stanley Omah Didia, popularly known as Omah Lay, has shared the story of his incarceration in a Ugandan jail four years ago.
Omah Lay and Tems were invited for a performance in Uganda in 2020, but they were detained and charged after their show.
According to Ugandan authorities, both Nigerian artists violated COVID-19 social regulations and laws that were in effect at the time.
Omah Lay revealed how a prison warden, who happened to be a fan, took care of them, describing it as a fantastic experience despite the challenging circumstances.
During an interview with The Beat FM, London, the ‘Damn’ hitmaker mentioned that he spent two days in prison and recalled a moment when there was an attempt to shave his hair, but the warden prevented it.
Omah Lay believes that his adverse experience in Uganda was essential for his musical growth.
He expressed, “My time in Ugandan prison was an amazing experience for me. Although it seemed rough at the time, looking back, it had to happen. It fostered the relationship I have today with Tems and her manager, Muyiwa [Awoniyi]. 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.”
