After expressing his opinions about the composition of Nigeria’s Afrobeats music scene, Nigerian singer Omah Lay sparked controversy on the internet.
According to reports, the musician claimed that many prominent members of the Yoruba ethnic group are from Lagos, where the Afrobeats genre is mostly controlled.
He claims that this makes it more difficult for musicians from other regions of the nation to become well-known in the Lagos-based music industry.
Omah Lay, a native of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, clarified that it was difficult for him to establish a career in the Lagos music scene.
He added that the process occasionally became extremely taxing and that he had to fight for a long time before he could find his place in the industry.
The singer made the remarks during a listening event for his upcoming album titled Clarity of Mind.
At the event, he spoke about his journey in the music industry and the pressure that comes with trying to meet expectations from fans and people within the music business.
He said the Afrobeats sound grew from Lagos and was strongly shaped by the legacy of legendary musician Fela Kuti, who is widely known as one of the pioneers of the genre and a Yoruba man.
“Afrobeats is mainly Lagos. It is mainly the Yorubas. Fela Kuti is the pioneer; we all know that, and he is Yoruba. I am from Port Harcourt, and you have to break into Lagos. There are only two people from the PH that you know: Burna Boy and me.
“It got to a point I was like, you know what? I am going to take my time and look at my family and fans, people who really love me; I am going to stay there. The rest of you, the rest of the world, don’t love me. Fuck off. That is it,” he said.
