Kehinde Adeleye
Nigerian Afrobeats singer Omah Lay has revealed that the illegal status of cannabis in Nigeria contributes to the sense of rebellion he experiences when smoking.
The singer, whose real name is Omah Stanley Didia, made the disclosure during a recent podcast interview with DJ Dan, where he spoke about his unsuccessful attempts to quit smoking.
Omah Lay said he had repeatedly tried to stop the habit but eventually decided to stop forcing himself to quit.
According to the ‘Soso’ crooner, part of what makes smoking appealing to him is the fact that weed is prohibited in Nigeria.
He described the feeling as an “artificial happiness” and a form of rebellion against the restrictions surrounding cannabis use.
“I just want to be at peace and smoke my weed. And the fact that it is illegal in Nigeria, it gives me artificial happiness and a sense of rebellion,” he said.
Omah Lay also said he had come to accept his lifestyle, arguing that everyone will eventually die and that he wants to enjoy his life rather than constantly struggle to give up something he enjoys.
“I love smoking a lot. I tried to stop, I forced myself but I can’t,” he said.
The singer’s comments have drawn attention to his perspective on cannabis use, particularly his description of smoking as both a source of enjoyment and an act of rebellion because of its illegal status in Nigeria.
