By Oyinkansayo Wole-Bodunde.
Afropop sensation Yemi Alade has been announced as Spotify’s EQUAL Artist for September 2024.
Known as “Mama Africa” for her dedication to promoting African culture and music, Alade continues to make a significant impact on the global music scene.
With electrifying performances and a powerful voice, Alade has earned worldwide recognition. She has collaborated with international stars like Beyoncé, Angélique Kidjo, and Awilo Longomba. Her tours have showcased African music’s richness and beauty, captivating audiences across continents and cultures.
According to Spotify’s Head of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa, Phiona Okumu, “Spotify’s EQUAL Africa program is dedicated to empowering female voices in Africa, spotlighting artists who continue to push boundaries with their artistry.
Yemi Alade exemplifies the calibre of talent the program aims to support.” Okumu adds, “Spotify is proud to be associated with Yemi Alade and will continue to use the EQUAL Africa program to provide support for women in music, amplifying their voices and helping to showcase their incredible talents to a global audience.”
With a career spanning over a decade, Yemi Alade has established herself as one of Nigeria’s most prominent and influential female artists. She has built a dedicated fanbase both locally and internationally.
In a conversation with Yemi Alade, she shared some personal things. When asked about something surprising her fans might not know about her, Alade revealed, “One surprising thing my fans don’t know about me is that despite this energy I exude, I’m actually an introvert. Some would say I’m an introvert who likes to go out just to eat food! How would we call that? A ‘food-trovert’ maybe?”
Alade’s love for music began at a young age. “I’ve always loved music, but I realised that my voice had an effect on people, and I loved that effect because it meant that I could connect with them even without touching them, without speaking directly to them. I felt a vibration that I enjoyed. It became a career after I won a talent show in 2010, and since then, my life has been on the road chasing music and making music,” she said.
Growing up, Alade was exposed to a wide range of African music. She said, “As a kid, I was really blessed to grow up in a big family, and the age ranges of the family members were far and wide, so I got the opportunity to listen to music that was even older than my age range. I fell in love with music from the likes of Sunny Adé King, Shina Peters, Onyeka Onwenu, and Christy Essien.”
When describing her music, Alade says, “My music is a perfect blend of high-life pop, R’n’B, and afrobeat. It’s a beautiful blend that is inspired by a bit of jazz or blues here and there. If you listen closely, you’ll pick the tones. I don’t like to be in a box, but I know that my music is a fusion of African sounds, and the core of my music is African rhythm.”
Finally, Alade offered advice to those hesitant to pursue their dreams. “The beautiful thing about dreams is that you envision them in your sleep, but the crazy part is that you have to dream while awake to achieve them. It is an unending journey, so if you dread following your dreams, then maybe that dream is not yours. You need to go back to bed and dream another dream because it’s not going to work.”
