Omah Lay Claims The Title of Afrobeats Greatest Artist

Omah Lay has confidently proclaimed himself the top Afrobeats artist of the decade, emphasizing that his assertion is based on artistic merit rather than record sales.

The ‘Soso’ crooner spoke in a recent interview with Capital Xtra, and maintained that his strength lies in his craft, even if conventional industry metrics suggest otherwise.

He affirmed, “I am the greatest Afrobeats artiste of the decade. I am the greatest.” However, the 28-year-old singer clarified that factors such as streaming numbers, popularity, and public persona might not place him at the top in the eyes of many.

He said, “When you consider numbers, personality, level of fame, and stardom, maybe you would not consider me. But when it comes to the art itself, I am the greatest.”

This is not the first occasion the Port Harcourt-born musician has made such a daring claim. He had previously described himself as Nigeria’s best artiste of the last 20 years, joining a growing list of Afrobeats stars who have made similar claims about their dominance in the genre.

Born Stanley Omah Didia, Omah Lay began his journey in music as a producer at the age of 15 before gaining mainstream attention in 2020 with breakout hits like ‘You’ and ‘Bad Influence.’

Celebrated for his heartfelt songwriting and unique Afro-fusion style, he has built a strong global fan base and remains one of the genre’s most talked-about voices.

At the 2026 Grammy Awards, Omah Lay received a nomination in the Best African Music Performance category for his Davido collaboration “With You,” but was beaten to the award by Tyla.