Nigerian singer Omah Lay has revealed that breaking into the Afrobeats scene was difficult for him because the industry is largely centred in Lagos.

Speaking at a listening session for his upcoming album Clarity of Mind, the Port Harcourt-born artiste said the genre’s roots and influence remain heavily tied to Lagos and Yoruba culture.

“Afrobeats is mainly Lagos. It’s mainly Yorubas. Fela Kuti is the pioneer and he’s Yoruba,” he said.

Omah Lay explained that being from Port Harcourt meant he had to work harder to gain visibility in the industry. He noted that only a few artistes from the city, including Burna Boy and himself, have managed to gain major recognition.

The singer added that he has since stopped chasing approval from the wider music industry, choosing instead to focus on the support he receives from his family and loyal fans.