This article explains everything to know about popular Afrobeat singer Omah Lay, his biography, music, and other interesting facts about the singer
Omah Lay Profile Summary
Full Name | Stanley Omah Didia |
Stage Name | Omah Lay |
Occupation | Singer, Song writer |
Date of birth | May 19, 1997 |
Nationality | Nigerian |
State of Origin | River State |
Record Label | Keyqaad KX |
Networth | $10 million |
Discography | Soso, Get layd, Lolo |
Biography
Omah Lay is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and record producer. His real name is Stanley Omah Didia, and he was born on May 19, 1997, in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. He hails from a village called Egbeda Emohua in River State.
He schooled at Comprehensive high school before furthering his education at the prestigious University of Port Harcourt. Omah Lay comes from a family of musically inclined people, His grandfather played some musical instruments for popular highlife musician Celestine Ugu while his biological dad played the drums.
Omah Lay gained prominence in the Nigerian music scene in 2020 with the release of his debut EP titled “Get Layd,” which featured hit songs such as “Bad Influence,” “Lo Lo,” and “You.” His unique blend of Afrobeat, R&B, and soulful melodies resonated with audiences, and he quickly garnered a large fan base.
Omah Lay’s Music Career
Omah Lay’s music career started in his hometown of Port Harcourt, Nigeria, where he began making music as a teenager. He initially gained attention in 2019 with the release of his debut single “Do Not Disturb,” which was well-received by music fans in Nigeria.
In 2020, Omah Lay signed a record deal with KeyQaad, a Nigerian record label. He then released his debut EP, “Get Layd,” which featured five tracks including the hit single “Bad Influence.” The EP was a commercial success and helped to solidify Omah Lay’s position as one of the rising stars in the Nigerian music industry.
Following the success of “Get Layd,” Omah Lay went on to release several more hit singles, including “Ye Ye Ye,” “Lo Lo,” and “Godly,” which further cemented his place in the Nigerian music scene. His unique style, which blends elements of Afrobeat, R&B, and hip-hop, has made him a fan favorite and a rising star in the African music industry.
Omah Lay’s Girlfriend
According to reports, Omah Lay has not been in any relationship since he broke up with his ex Girlfriend Eberechi from Abia State. The singer once revealed on his Instagram status that his girlfriend disclosed to him that she is lesbian. On his Instagram story, he wrote: “My girlfriend just opened up that she has a girl,” This could possibly be the reason for their break up.
His fans have suspected the breakup between him and his girlfriend to be the inspiration behind his 2020 hit single ‘ SOSO’.
Award and Nominations
In less than 5 years in the Nigerian music scene, Omah Lay has bagged several awards and nominations from big award names. See below
Awards:
- The Headies Awards 2020 – Next Rated
- The Headies Awards 2020 – Best Alternative Song (“Bad Influence”)
- All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) 2020 – Best African Act in the Diaspora
- Soundcity MVP Awards 2020 – Best New MVP
- Soundcity MVP Awards 2020 – Viewers’ Choice
- Soundcity MVP Awards 2020 – Best Pop
Nominations
The Headies Awards 2020 – Song of the Year (“Bad Influence”)
The Headies Awards 2020 – Best Pop Single (“Bad Influence”)
The Headies Awards 2020 – Best Recording of the Year (“Bad Influence”)
The Headies Awards 2020 – Best R&B Single (“Damn”)
The Headies Awards 2020 – Best Vocal Performance (Male) (“Bad Influence”)
The Headies Awards 2020 – Best Alternative Song (“You”)
The Headies Awards 2020 – Best Alternative Album (“Get Layd”)
All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) 2020 – Song of the Year in Africa (“Bad Influence”)
Omah Lay Music Video (SOSO )
Below is Omah Lay’s music video which was shot for his 2020 hit single SOSO. Omah Lay revealed in a recent interview that he was depressed when wrote the song.
Omah Lay’s Arrest In Uganda 2020
In December 2020, Omah Lay was arrested in Uganda along with fellow Nigerian musician Tems, and their managers, for allegedly violating COVID-19 regulations by performing at an unauthorized concert in Kampala, the capital city of Uganda.
The concert was reportedly organized by Ugandan event promoters, but it was not authorized by the government, and large gatherings were banned due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
After the concert, the Ugandan police arrested Omah Lay and Tems, and they were charged with negligently doing acts likely to spread infectious diseases, which is a violation of the COVID-19 regulations in Uganda. They were remanded in custody and appeared in court the next day, where they pleaded not guilty.
Following their arrest and detention, there was a widespread outcry from fans, artists, and human rights activists, who called for their release and criticized the Ugandan government for their treatment.
Omah Lay and Tems were released from detention a few days later and allowed to return to Nigeria, following the intervention of the Nigerian government and other diplomatic efforts.
Omah Lay Speaks on Being Depressed
Omah Lay in a series of tweets on Tuesday, July 19, 2022, said he battled depression while recording his album ‘Boy Alone’.
The ‘Understand’ crooner said he also contemplated suicide before putting out the album in June.
“I wanna spill my heart on this app like this, ‘Boy Alone’ might be the last time y’all will hear me cry on a song, On G, I was dead down, insecure, scared, depressed, and losing my mind like. I was literally gonna kill myself.
“People I used to look up to stopped showing me love, I looked people in the eye and saw doubt, disrespect, and hate. I lost myself, maybe I was just overthinking, I don’t know.
“My babe served me breakfast at midnight. I wanted to go crazy.
“I felt like I lost it until after I finished recording Boy Alone. I listened to myself and realized I’m one of the hardest sh*t African music has ever seen,” he wrote.
Omah Lay’s Networth
As of May 2023, the 25-year-old singer is worth over $10 million, he makes his money from music shows, brand endorsements, and streaming platforms like iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, Boomplay, Youtube, etc.
Social media and streaming profiles
Below are Omah Lay’s social profiles and streaming platforms