Nigerian singer Tems has opened up about her harrowing experience in a Ugandan prison, where she was detained for two days in 2020, alongside Omah Lay.
During a recent interview with Angie Martinez, Tems described the small, dingy prison cell in which she was held and the fear and uncertainty she experienced. She recalled being provided with a foul-smelling uniform and sleeping on the floor without a bed or any amenities.
"I thought I wouldn't come out," Tems said. "I believed there was a reason for me to be there, perhaps to help the people. I adapted quickly, settling in."
Tems explained that she was unaware of the charges against her or her legal rights and expressed her fear of a potential long-term imprisonment.
She thanked her fans for their support, emphasizing how their prayers and positive messages helped her stay strong during the ordeal.
However, she placed blame on Bebe Cool for her imprisonment, describing him as a strange "mad man."
"We went to Uganda for a show during the COVID pandemic. The organizers provided us with a permit to perform, and we went there. There was this strange, mad guy (Bebe Cool), a particular artist whose role I still don't understand. He was essentially threatening Nigerian artists to come to Uganda. After the show, the police came and arrested me and my manager. We were taken to jail. I thought I wouldn't come out. I believed there was a reason for me to be there, perhaps to help the people. I adapted quickly. As I walked in, I started to cry because they gave me my uniform, which stank because they didn't wash it. It was a small room with nothing but the floor. They provided blankets and tissues, and you're just on the floor with no bed. I spent two days there. I had no information about when I would be released, and I had no contacts. Outside, everyone was saying 'Free Tems, Free Omah Lay,' but inside, I remained hopeful, waiting," she said.