Nigerian singer, Tems, provided further insights into her ordeal in the Ugandan prison where she and Omah Lay were detained for two full days in 2020, facing charges in court.
Tems felt completely cut off from the world during her detention and had to quickly adjust to the harsh reality of being in prison. During an interview with Angie Martinez, she recounted her experience, starting from when she was taken from her hotel.
At first, she thought it might be a joke, but when she arrived at the prison and was handed her uniform, the gravity of the situation hit her, and she couldn’t help but cry.
Tems said, “I thought I wasn’t gonna come out. I thought I was seeing it for a reason like maybe I was meant to help the people. I was settling in because I adapted real quick and as I was walking in I started to cry because they gave me my uniform and it stunk because they don’t wash it.
It was a small room and there was nothing, there’s just the floor they give you blankets and tissues and you’re just on the floor, no bed and I did it for two days. I didn’t even know I was going to get out, I didn’t have any ears on the ground nobody told me anything. Outside everyone was like ‘free Tems, free Omah lay but inside I was just hopeful, waiting,” she narrated.
Despite her hope, Tems was uncertain about a speedy release. She observed that the women she connected with in prison were often incarcerated for minor offenses, and some were held due to bribes paid to the guards. The prison’s system required money to make phone calls, and she had none.
Tems shared that she entertained the women in prison by winking at them when they stared at her as she entered. Her reason for winking was simple – nerves. She did it to adapt quickly and, most importantly, to avoid crying in such a challenging environment.
She said to Martinez, “Once I walked in everyone turned and looked at me and whispering and I was like ‘what have I done? I can’t cry’ and I just started winking, that was my way of adapting. I must show these people that I’m confident so I started being extra winking and saying hi and they were laughing.”
The woman in charge of the women’s prisons went to her to explain the rules and regulations, as well as the repercussions of breaking the rules. The apex punishment was solitary confinement in a small store with no food or water. She was told that she had to kneel to speak to officials and they were fed only once a day. During the two days spent in the prison, she didn’t eat and continued sipping water every day.
On the night of December 12, 2020, Omah Lay and Tems performed at The Big Brunch, an event held at Speke Resort on Wavamunno Road, Kampala, Uganda. Following their performance, they were charged in court by the Uganda police for violating COVID-19 guidelines during a lockdown.
Back in Nigeria, a collective effort was made to secure the immediate release of Tems and Omah Lay. Tems’ manager’s father traveled to the capital city, Abuja, to meet with then-President Buhari to address the issue. As a result, the two musicians were eventually released and sent back home.