LAGOS – Nigerian RnB singer Stanley Omah Didia better known by his stage name Omah Lay has expressed his longing to return to perform in Uganda despite being arrested and detained in the country in December 2020.
On 13th December 2020, Omah Lay and Temilade Openyi alias Tems and their manager Muyiwa Awomiyi were arrested and detained in Kitalya and Kigo prisons respectively for flouting the Ministry of Health, Uganda’s COVID-19 guidelines on holding musical concerts.
The duo held a Big Brunch concert in Kampala that was attended in large numbers by their fans on 12th December, an action that was considered as exacerbating the numbers of Covid-19 cases in the country.
They were later released but the terrifying memories of their detention have never been erased from their minds to-date.
Despite all, Omah Lay took some lessons, stood up and dusted himself, and moved on. He says that he holds no grudge and has no regrets.
Speaking in an interview with the media in Lagos, Nigeria, the fast rising singer said he is open to a return to the Pearl of Africa if booked to perform.
The ‘Godly’ singer mentioned that if promoters reach out to his management, he would gladly return to the country.
“I do not regret going to Uganda. The night we met Ugandan fans was perfect. I would want to go back to see those people, there was a lot of energy, love and it was an amazing moment,” he stated.
Omah Lay also shared on how he was working on an album that was greatly inspired by his stay and arrest in Uganda.
“I don’t regret the arrest in Uganda, I only picked lessons from it. I hope to perform there again. I am working on the album inspired by the Ugandan situation.”
Before the Omah Lay, Tems “Big Brunch” concert happened, it sparked outrage from local artist Bebe Cool aka Moses Ssali as he cited double standards in the enforcement of the COVID-19 presidential directives saying he will do whatever he could in his power to stop it.
Bebe Cool lambasted authorities that allowed the concert to go ahead as planned despite an existing ban on music concerts due to COVID-19.
The “Easy” singer was later joined by a cocktail of other local Ugandan musicians, the likes of Cindy Sanyu, King Saha, Gravity Omutujju, Naira Ali, Ykee Benda among others in speaking out against the inequality.
Bebe Cool later sharply twisted his opinion on the matter requesting Tems and Omah Lay be exonerated while the organizers pay the price for the alleged crimes.
They Nigerian artistes and managers were later released and flown back to Nigeria before causing a stir on social media between countries (Nigeria and Uganda) as they called out Bebe Cool for being the snitch.
