I didn’t get Tems, Omah Lay arrested – Bebe Cool

Ugandan musician Bebe Cool has denied allegations that he played a role in the 2020 arrest of Nigerian singers Tems and Omah Lay.

The two artists were detained in Uganda after performing at a concert that violated COVID-19 restrictions.

In a recent interview on the Afrobeats Podcast, Bebe Cool gave his side of the story. He claimed he was not responsible for the arrests and instead helped secure their release.

Bebe Cool’s version of events

The singer recalled that he first heard about the arrests through a phone call at around 3 a.m. A friend informed him that the Nigerian artists had been detained. He immediately started making inquiries.

By 6 a.m., Bebe Cool went to the police station to speak with the officer in charge. He confirmed that Tems and Omah Lay were under arrest.

Bebe Cool questioned the decision, arguing that the artists should not be held responsible for the event’s attendance. He reminded the officer that Uganda’s president had allowed gatherings of up to 200 people.

“The artists are not in charge of the show,” Bebe Cool explained. “They don’t control how many people attend.”

The officer advised him to take up the matter with his superior. However, while he was at the station, the event promoter accused him of orchestrating the arrests.

Accusations from the show promoter

The promoter pointed at Bebe Cool and said, “That’s the guy. He’s the reason you’re in prison.”

Bebe Cool explained that local Ugandan artists had been frustrated with the government’s COVID-19 restrictions.

They had been unable to perform for over a year, even for small audiences. Meanwhile, Tems and Omah Lay were allowed to hold a concert. This angered Ugandan musicians, who took to social media to demand equal treatment.

Since Bebe Cool is a well-known artist, his tweets gained significant attention. This led to speculation that he had influenced the authorities’ decision to arrest the Nigerian singers.

His efforts to help

Despite the accusations, Bebe Cool said he only spoke on behalf of the two detained artists. He did not advocate for the release of the show promoter. This, he believes, caused further tension.

Ugandan Musician Bebe Cool. [Photo credit: Google]

After leaving the police station, he went to the head office to meet with senior officials. While waiting, he saw on his phone that the Nigerian artists had already been taken to court.

He immediately called the police station and questioned the decision. “I just left, I’m waiting for the big man to come so we can discuss, and you went behind me and took the artists to court?” he asked.

The officer responded that after Bebe Cool left, the promoter had caused a scene, bragging about her political connections.

The aftermath

Bebe Cool insists he did not facilitate the arrests. He maintains that his efforts were focused on getting the artists released. He blames social media for spreading false narratives.

“When the internet picks a story in a certain direction, it’s hard to change it,” he said.

The controversy surrounding the arrests sparked international backlash. Many fans and artists called for the immediate release of Tems and Omah Lay. Eventually, both artists were freed and returned to Nigeria.

Bebe Cool hopes that by sharing his account, he can clear his name. He wants people to know that he was not responsible for the arrests but instead worked to help the Nigerian artists regain their freedom.