Afrobeats star Omah Lay has accused fellow artist Rema of stealing his album concept, sparking controversy in the Nigerian music industry.
The accusation stems from a resurfaced interview where Omah Lay hinted that a colleague took his ideas after he shared them privately, later releasing an album with similar concepts.
Alleged screenshots of a 2023 chat exchange between Omah Lay and Rema have gone viral, showing the pair discussing collaboration and experimenting with a new sound.
They exchanged creative ideas and made promises to work together. In the chat, Omah Lay shared a file titled “mara rough” with Rema, who expressed interest in the sound and requested a space to contribute.
Rema also sent Omah Lay a file titled “Now I Know,” which happens to be the last track on his “HEIS” album.
The authenticity of the screenshots is being debated on social media, with fans divided. Some defend Rema, while others call for him to address the allegations directly.
Neither artist has issued an official public statement. This incident has reignited conversations about intellectual property and originality in the Nigerian music industry, with fans advising creatives to protect their ideas.
Omah Lay previously stated that he had to recreate his project from scratch after the alleged theft, and he’s now warning fellow artists to safeguard their creativity.
The drama unfolds as fans speculate about tensions between the two stars behind the scenes.
