-
Bebe Cool says he received angry calls from Davido & Wizkid after Omah Lay & Tems were arrested in Uganda
Ugandan music star Bebe Cool has distanced himself from the controversial 2020 arrest of Nigerian artists Tems and Omah Lay, stating in a recent interview on the Afrobeats Podcast that he played no role in the incident.
Fans will recall that both Nigerian singers were arrested in Uganda and charged with violating COVID-19 protocols after performing at a concert in Kampala.
The sight of the duo in handcuffs sparked widespread outrage among Nigerians, with many accusing Bebe Cool of orchestrating their arrest. Their anger stemmed from the Ugandan star’s earlier protest against Nigerian artists being invited to perform while local musicians were allegedly sidelined.
However, Bebe Cool insists that the internet-fueled a false narrative. According to him, he took immediate steps to intervene upon learning about the arrest.
“I went to the police station to find out what was happening. I spoke to one of the managers and the head of the police station and asked him why he went to arrest the artist,” he explained.
He further clarified that he informed the authorities that the COVID-19 violation was the fault of the event promoters, not the artists, as they were unaware of the 200-person restriction.
Bebe Cool claimed that a promoter wrongfully linked him to the arrest simply because he had earlier joined other Ugandan artists in demanding equal performance opportunities.
The Ugandan singer also disclosed that Nigerian superstars Davido and Wizkid reached out to him, demanding an explanation for the incident.
He stated that he wrote to the prosecutor’s office to secure their release but faced bureaucratic hurdles. However, after engaging with top government officials, he was eventually able to help them regain their freedom.
The incident, which Tems later described as traumatizing, led to widespread condemnation from Nigerian artists who took to social media to demand their colleagues’ release.
In the aftermath of the ordeal, Omah Lay channelled his emotions into music, releasing ‘Goldy,’ which went on to become a smash hit.