“I Lost My Dad When I Was 12”- Omah Lay Shares With Joey Akan

Omah Lay sat down with journalist, Joey Akan and had a tell all that touched on losing his father at 12, learning the ropes in the music game and more. Read all about it below!

By Ademola Bashorun

New-age Port Harcourt music sensation, Omah Lay was a guest on music journalist, Joey Akan’s Afrobeats Intelligence podcast where he narrated his difficult upbringing from the early loss of his father, to doing menial jobs to support his family.

According to Omah Lay, his father; Boy Alone died when he was 12 and he had to support his family by illegally refining crude oil in the creeks.

“I’m the first child and my dad died– Boy Alone himself, when I was around 12. So the weight of the family was on me when I was 13/14, I went to Marine Base and did anything I could do to take care of my family. I dey do kpo fire”

He said, referring to the Port Harcourt hustle of illegally refining crude oil.

The singer also detailed how despite the hardship, his passion for music remain unquenched and he’d gone from his crude oil business in day time to participating in rap battles with his friends at night. Omah Lay also shared how he’d learned the art of music production via a Dr Roy who produces for Mercy Chinwo with the condition that he makes only Gospel music.

Omah Lay released his debut album, which is named after his late father, Boy Alone on the 15th of July.

Listen to the full podcast here.