Omah Lay smoking comments reveal the singer has stopped forcing himself to quit after repeated attempts, saying he wants to live without pressure
Nigerian Afrobeats singer Stanley Omah Didia, popularly known as Omah Lay, has said he has stopped forcing himself to quit smoking, telling DJ Dan in a recent podcast interview that repeated attempts to give up the habit had proved difficult.
The singer said he had tried several times to stop but eventually decided to accept his current relationship with smoking rather than continue putting pressure on himself. His comments were reported on 16 August 2026.
“I love smoking a lot. I tried to stop, I forced myself but I can’t,” Omah Lay said.
He questioned the value of repeatedly trying to quit, arguing that life is short and that death is ultimately unavoidable.
“I just want to be at peace and smoke my weed,” he added, explaining that the illegality of cannabis in Nigeria gives him what he described as “artificial happiness” and “a sense of rebellion”.
The comments have drawn attention because Omah Lay has previously spoken publicly about his relationship with marijuana.
In January 2025, the singer clarified that he did not smoke cigarettes, saying he used marijuana instead.
The clarification followed an appearance at Paris Fashion Week where he was seen holding a cigarette.
His latest remarks also arrive several months after the release of his second studio album, Clarity of Mind, on 3 April 2026.
The album explores themes of emotional uncertainty, substance use, relationships and the pressures surrounding contemporary life.
Its opening track, “Artificial Happiness”, directly engages with Omah Lay’s relationship with cannabis and the temporary relief he associates with it.
The connection between the interview and the album is notable. Rather than presenting smoking simply as a recreational habit, Omah Lay’s comments suggest that he sees it as part of a wider emotional and creative experience.
In an earlier interview with The Fader, the singer also reflected on his use of drugs while making music, saying that he had found himself preferring the creative process when sober.
He explained that music made while sober remained meaningful to him after the effects of substances had worn off.
That distinction adds a more complicated dimension to his latest comments.
While Omah Lay says he has accepted smoking, his previous reflections suggest that substance use and creativity do not necessarily have a straightforward relationship for him.
The singer’s statement should also be understood as a personal account rather than medical advice.
Smoking cannabis carries health risks, and deciding to continue or stop is a personal health matter that can benefit from professional support.
For now, Omah Lay says he is no longer interested in repeatedly forcing himself to quit.
His remarks have once again placed his relationship with cannabis in the public conversation, while offering fans a candid glimpse into how he currently views a habit he says he has struggled to abandon.
For an artist whose recent work has explored difficult emotions and coping mechanisms, the admission is consistent with a broader willingness to discuss aspects of his life that many public figures might prefer to keep private.
