Grammy-winning Nigerian singer, Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has recounted her experiences in a Ugandan prison.
Recall that Tems and Omah Lay were arrested, charged, and later imprisoned in Uganda for appearing at a concert hosted in the country on Saturday, December 12th, at Speke Resort in Kampala, violating COVID-19 social distancing restrictions.
In a recent interview with Angie Martinez of Power 105.1 FM in New York, Tems asserted that they did not violate COVID-19 standards, alleging that “it was a setup.”
The Oscar-nominated diva said she didn’t expect to be released and was “already settling in,” emphasising how quickly she adapts.
Tems said, “We didn’t break the [COVID-19] rules. It was basically like a set up. We went to Uganda, I had a show there. It was during COVID year but they had opened things up that time. They had just had a rally in Uganda. People were going out. It wasn’t on lockdown. It was the aftermath.
“And the organisers said they had the permit, they sent us the permit. Everything was cool. And went there and there is this particular artist, I’m not sure now what his role was but he was just busy threatening Nigerian artists that they shouldn’t come.
“That was so scary. I spent two nights in prison. I thought I wasn’t gonna come out. I thought maybe I was going through it for a reason. I was like maybe this is for me to help the people in prison. It was crazy, I ain’t gonna lie. I was settling in because I adapt real quick.”
