Nigerian singer Omah Lay has declared himself the greatest Afrobeats artiste of the decade, insisting that his claim is based on artistic quality rather than commercial success or popularity.
The ‘Soso’ hitmaker made the bold statement during a recent interview with Capital Xtra, where he maintained that his strength lies in the depth and originality of his craft.
“I am the greatest Afrobeats artiste of the decade. I am the greatest,” he said.
However, the 28-year-old artiste acknowledged that when measured by industry benchmarks such as streaming numbers, fame, and public influence, his position may not be widely recognised as the top.
“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,” he added.
Born Stanley Omah Didia, Omah Lay began his music journey as a producer at the age of 15 before rising to mainstream prominence in 2020 with breakout hits such as ‘You’ and ‘Bad Influence’.
He is known for his emotive songwriting and distinctive Afro-fusion sound, which has earned him a strong global following and positioned him as one of the standout voices in contemporary Afrobeats.
At the 2026 Grammy Awards, Omah Lay received a nomination in the Best African Music Performance category for his collaboration with Davido on ‘With You’, but lost the award to South African singer Tyla.