The Nigerian music scene is currently buzzing with drama following conflicting narratives surrounding the recent split between Afrobeats star Omah Lay and his longtime manager, Muyiwa Awoniyi.
Awoniyi had taken to X (formerly Twitter) on Friday afternoon to announce that he was no longer managing Omah Lay, sparking speculation among fans and industry observers. His post was brief and diplomatic, giving the impression that the two had amicably parted ways after years of working together.
However, things took a different turn less than an hour later when Kaestyle, Omah Lay’s label mate under KeyQaad and frequent collaborator, threw what many perceived as a subtle jab at Awoniyi. Without naming names, Kaestyle posted a cryptic message that read:
“Dem sack you, you say I’m no longer… lol. Always quick to go on social media.”
The timing and context of Kaestyle’s post made it difficult to interpret it as anything other than a reaction to Awoniyi’s announcement. This prompted Awoniyi to fire back with a pointed response, offering more insight into the circumstances that led to his departure from managing Omah Lay.
In a quoted post, Awoniyi claimed that he had initially agreed to manage Omah Lay to help the singer escape what he described as an exploitative deal with the KeyQaad record label, a label that Kaestyle remains signed to. He further alleged that, having succeeded in freeing Omah Lay from the deal, he chose to step down.
He wrote, “I agreed to manage Omah to get him out of the very slave deal that you signed. Now he is out, I also am out. You, on the other hand, are a slave.”
The choice of words, especially the term “slave,” has raised eyebrows and stirred controversy, with fans divided over whether Awoniyi’s comments were justified or unnecessarily harsh.
Despite the online back-and-forth, Omah Lay took a different tone altogether. The ‘Soso’ crooner extended heartfelt appreciation to his former manager in a tweet, describing Awoniyi as the most intelligent person he has encountered in the industry.
“@IAmDonawon The most intelligent n*gga I’ve met so far in the game. Love you forever, my blood,” Omah Lay wrote on his X handle.
Awoniyi responded warmly, saying, “Love you, my brother. Clarity of mind is on the way now finally!
In a separate post, Awoniyi revealed that Omah Lay has completed plans to exit the KeyQaad label altogether and is in the process of launching his own imprint, reportedly called Boy Alone, named after his 2022 album. While this move seems to align with Awoniyi’s previous efforts to “liberate” the artist, Omah Lay has yet to officially confirm either his departure from KeyQaad or the establishment of his own label.
The situation remains fluid, but one thing is clear: the split between Awoniyi and Omah Lay, which initially seemed peaceful, has now taken on a more dramatic and revealing tone. The involvement of Kaestyle, who appears to still be under contract with KeyQaad, has added another layer to the unfolding saga.
As fans wait for an official statement from Omah Lay or KeyQaad, the online drama continues to spark debate about artist-label relationships, loyalty, and the often messy nature of behind-the-scenes music industry dealings in Nigeria.
