the biography of yemi alade

Yemi Alade Biography, Age, Early Life, Parents, Boyfriend, Songs, Albums, Net Worth And More

Yemi Alade Profile

Yemi alade biography, age, family, early life and education, music career, personal life, achievements, yemi alade songs, awards and nominations, yemi alade net worth, social media handles.

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Yemi Alade was one of the early breakthrough artists in the global Afrobeats movement. Born in Nigeria in 1989 to a Yoruba father and an Igbo mother, she broke the scene open in 2013 with the song “Johnny,” and has been riding high ever since, including plenty of live touring. Banning Eyre and Sean Barlow caught up with her at the Nuits D’Afrique festival in Montreal last week, as she was preparing to headline on the main outdoor stage. When they spoke, Yemi was sporting big hair and a casual look, but once on stage, well, it was a whole different story...

Heads up: Yemi Alade will perform at Sony Hall in New York City on August 11. Details and ticket info here.

Photos by Banning Eyre.

Banning Eyre: Yemi, welcome back to Afropop Worldwide . It is great to see you in person. It was fun speaking over Skype last year, but this is better. We don't have a lot of time, but I'd love to hear a little about your early life, how you became a musician in the first place.

Yemi Alade: I have loved music my entire life. One day I participated in a talent show in 2009, and for some reason, I won. That was all the conviction that I needed to finally make it a career. But from the age of six, I was already writing my own songs. I remember I used to make small phrases that I would repeat and repeat and my mom got tired of it, so I started recording on tapes. I was very much involved in music. I just loved it. I didn't want to make it a career, yet. But winning that prize… That changed it all for me. It chose me. And because I was chosen, I surrendered to it.

Beautiful. And how were your parents about that? Did they support the choice?

I feel like my parents always saw it coming. Because like I said, I was all over the place with music. My mom would ask me a question and I would sing a response to her, you know. And in school, I was in the choir in every level of school, representing the school. So I believe they saw it coming. We never had a conversation of, “Oh, do you really want to make this happen? Do you really want this?” We never had that conversation. It just took a natural flow. And they supported me.

Your career took a big jump with the song “Johnny” in 2013. What was that like, the moment when that song hit?

I will never forget it because I literally felt my life changing for the better in a way that I couldn't explain. You know, in 2010 I won the talent show, and I released my first music in 2011. I was trying to understand the kind of artist I wanted to be. You know, I was in the artist development stage both mentally and in the actual work of it. And then in 2013, when this song “Johnny” came out, I saw that the response was quite a huge wave. It started from the east of Nigeria, moved to the west and then eventually the south. And next thing in other African countries, we were getting calls. That's when I knew something big had hit me. Just in a blink of an eye, the entire world was gravitating to it. I knew something huge had changed in the world, at least for me.

We were listening to a your music driving up yesterday from New York and I was noticing that your songs often have a very interesting soundscape. They are minimal in the sense that it's very open and spacious, but there are a lot of unusual sounds in the mix. Did you have an engineer or producer that you bonded with and came up with a vision of how to make the music that would support your voice?

Not really. Musically, I'm just who I am. When I listen to music or instruments, I allow the sound to resonate with me. It must resonate with me before I lay my vocals on it. It's just something I can't explain. When it hits me, I know it's the one. I work with several producers, but most especially, I'm an open book, I don't like to be put in a box. I could be singing music today that is more R &B, next minute I could switch to techno. But this is because I am a musical vessel. I am who I am at that point in time.

There's one song on the album from last year, African Baddie , that has a bit of a highlife feel, “Get Down.” It's very interesting to me the way artists of your generation either choose to refer back to older sounds or not to. What's your attitude towards drawing influences from the classic styles like juju , highlife or afrobeat?

The core of my music, the foundation of my career actually, is juju . But the foundation of my musical journey, that is from the beginning of inception when I was born, the foundation is R &B, blues, jazz and then rap, even before the highlife and juju started to make more prominence in my life. But as I unraveled and became myself, I found that highlife and juju were sounds that once they hit me, I would feel like some kind of electrical volt went through my body. This is the one for me.

Sean Barlow: In the Nuits D’Afrique program, they refer to you as the Queen of Afropop. And that struck me because actually I created the Afropop brand for our radio program in 1986. I believe that was the first time it was used it in any kind of broadcast context. We became Afropop Worldwide in 1990, in order to include Brazil, Haiti, Cuba and so on. Anyway, how do you feel about being called the Queen of Afropop?

I have been called so many things. The most important part of my being is my name, because it holds so much meaning. When I was just starting off my career, I had the opportunity to choose other names I liked. Like I wanted to go with Electra. I wanted to go with Ginger. These were names that I felt would describe my personality on stage. But after much thought, I realized that my name should be Yemi Alade, which means “the one who holds the crown.” Yemi Alade. Thanks be to God, “the one who holds the crown.” That one just solidifies everything that I am. And if you notice, all my album titles are towards royalty, towards the dynasty of being royal. And at the end of the day, that is what is most important to me. My name is also Mamma Africa. They call me Afro Queen. They call me Afropop Queen. They call me Afrobeats Queen.

Banning: That's interesting. I have to say, Yemi Alade is a name that sounds very nice when sung. And you sing it a lot.

I know. Sometimes people walk up to me and sing, “Yemi Alade.” I'm like, okay, I did that to myself. But I love it. I love it. It's beautiful.

Speaking of album titles, take the last one, African Baddie . In song “Baddie,” you talk about someone making you want to spend all your money on them. So I wondered: who are you addressing? Are you the baddie? Or are you addressing the baddie?

“Baddie” is a song where I drew inspiration from the dancehall vibe. I put some R&B into that. But the baddie in the song is definitely me. And I am, in summary, trying to say that this particular person that I'm interested in is kind of making me want to spend my own money. Whereas normally in the world that we live in today it’s the other way around. The guy should spend on the lady, right? So I'm like, you make me want to spend my pounds. You make me spend my dollars. You make me want to spend my time on you. But I'm a baddie still.

A royal baddie.

Always. The crown does not move.

I like the gender role reversal. You're basically telling some guy, “I'm not going to just keep handing you money.” I said you make me want to. I didn't say I ever spent it. (laughs)

Okay. But it’s interesting because the cliche is the sugar daddy who's paying for his woman. But you've turned that around. I remember the first time we talked, we talked about your song “Boyz,” which also was another gender twist.

Yeah. True, true. Sometimes I see things from... I think I go through the angle that maybe the guys are normally known to sing from, the direction in which they would throw their words. Most times they come from that direction. Because I mean, if you have all that money, you might as well spend it sometimes, right?

I suppose. So, Yemi, how do you see the scene developing now? We talked a couple of years ago and about women on the Nigerian scene. And, you know, obviously there are now some very prominent ones, with you leading the way. But do you feel a change? Is this a slow process or is it really starting to move in terms of the openness for a woman in this profession ?

I think many years ago it might have seemed kind of slow. But at the moment it's moving at such a pace. It's moving at the speed of light to be sincere. We have to make sure that the moment doesn't pass us. We need to latch onto it and make true meaning of it. A lot of people believed and still believe that by now the spotlight on Afrobeat would have dwindled or disappeared, would have gone. But it's still here. And it's still here for a reason, because the propagators of Afrobeat, the people, are not stopping. We are lighting that fire every day. And as long as we continue to do that, even if, for instance, whatever spotlight lives, we will have created something bigger than us.

That's true.

And that is exactly what is happening right now. It's moving at the pace that it needs to move up. We just need to make meaning of it.

Many people have noted that Afrobeats careers can rise and fall very quickly. An artist who are really on top can be suddenly overtaken by others. Do you have any kind of sort of strategy for longevity? How to stay relevant in the scene?

To be sincere, if I were to tell you that I knew, then that means everybody would know the exact same thing and we would all now have the answers. My team and I, what we do the best is just be ourselves and do what we can with all that we have. While making sure that we're making sense of it. You know, we're doing it for ourselves and not just rushing to try and please or grab for the attention. I love music. Sometimes I say, oh, I'm gonna take a break, but then I can't even last a day. I mean, what am I gonna do?

And so for as long as that passion, that zest is in me, I will keep going and so will my team. And I think that is definitely the backbone of longevity. And also being original. I'm original to myself. As far as I'm concerned, there's no one like me. There's the only Yemi Alade. There's the one Yemi Alade. You might see some likeness in certain people, but there is no Yemi Alade other than this Yemi Alade. As long as I stay original, the same way we refer to people like King Sunny Ade, we will be here forever, even after we're gone.

Sean: Can you tell us about songs you’re going to play tonight? Will they come from your recent album?

So African Baddie is actually an EP, and my new album will be out in September by God's grace, but I do have a new single out now and it's called “Fake Friends.” And I will be singing that one tonight for sure. And some old songs and some songs from Queendoncom (2021). We’ll just be mixing and just going with the flow.

Tell us about that new song.

Fake Friends! I mean, who doesn't have them? It's high time they had a track. I mean, the problem with this is that the Fake Friends will also be dancing with you while you're playing the song. So I really do wish you guys the best.

You know who you are, right?

You know who you are. I couldn't have said it better.

It's a critique of the social media idea that people can become friends with the click of a button.

Yeah, I mean, the word friend has been used loosely these days. And it's also unfortunate sometimes that you find that people gravitate more to you and maybe you have more likes on Instagram. Whereas the reality of life is beyond the digital space. Reality is separate on its own. Life is really life. You know what I mean? And I just wanted to use this song as a point of reference just to remind people in their own way to remember to call a spade a spade. Because sometimes our friends and sisters and brothers, bros, sis, they are the snakes in the green carpet. You know? So just watch your back.

Good advice. Most of the great hits of Afrobeats are created in a studio, right? So talk about bringing songs to the stage. What's your approach? What kind of a band do you stage, and how do you take something that was crafted in the studio with all the time and energy and technology you can use there and bring it to the stage?

The stage is my playground. The minute I record a song in the studio, I've done my job. And when I come to the stage, I come to play. So at that point in time, what I'm going to do is take the music to the point where it didn't get to in the studio. I bring twists to it. I render it in the way that it comes to me at that point in time. I try to keep it interesting even for myself, because if I'm bored on stage, you will be bored too. So I'm having fun. I am really just exciting myself. Even my band, as much as we rehearse, I'm spontaneous. Whatever the music tells me to do is what I will do, and we just go. And it's never failed.

Tell us about your band.

Well, I operate a 13-man band, but when I'm on tour, you reduce the number. I think at the moment there is a six, seven. I think there's seven, so that's half. And the most important… my favorite instrument is the talking drum. I love the melody; there's nothing like it. And the talking drum is on stage with us tonight.

Sean: Can you make the sound of the talking drum?

It's impossible, because the talking drum speaks in its own language. It has the vibration and depth that no other drum has. You know the talking drum the minute you hear in. In the very olden days, and even up till now, the talking drum can convey messages. When it hits certain rhythms, if you understand the Yoruba language, you will know what the talking drum is saying. You need not say anything; it'll speak to you.

What languages do you sing in?

I sing in English, I put in the Pidgin, and then I definitely need to put in some Yoruba and Igbo because my mom and dad are from two different tribes. So I mix and blend and I go with the flow.

Banning: What was that like growing up in a household with both those influences? How was that different for you than it might have been growing up in one or the other during that same time? Did it challenge you, or open you, in certain ways?

I think it challenged my mom and dad more than it challenged me. Because they were the ones from two different tribes and they had two different families with two different cultures. And they were just really trying to make it work, right? But I, on the other hand, was enjoying it. Because first of all, the food, I got to eat different delicacies. And, you know, my people love culture, so I got to enjoy both cultures, from the clothing to the language to the people and their essence. I really enjoyed it. And then to have both names; I have both Yoruba names and Igbo names. And I get to feel whole with both of them. It's a blessing for me.

Sean: Yemi, in September, we are doing an honoring, we call it the Afropop Hall of Fame, for the Cuban percussionist and singer Pedrito Martinez. He's a Cuban Yoruba, and a Santeria priest.

He sings in Yoruba and plays bata drums. So he's showing how powerful Yoruba culture has been in Brazil, Cuba, Haiti and so on. It's a beautiful thing, because a lot of people in America don't know about African culture in America.

They don't.

Banning: Well, they're getting wiser. We're working on it.

Yeah, they are getting wiser. People are getting wiser.

Amen to that. Thanks for speaking with us and have a wonderful show tonight.

• Sean Barlow
• Banning Eyre

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Table of Contents

Yemi Alade Nigerian singer

• DISCOGRAPHY
• FILMOGRAPHY
• AWARDS & NOMINATIONS

Yemi Alade BIOGRAPHY

Yemi Alade’s birth Name Yemi Eberechi Alade is a songwriter, an afro-pop singer, a Nigerian activist, and an actress.

She broke into the spotlight with her single Johnny under Efizzy Records.

Yemi Alade Background

Yemi Alade was born into a home in Nigeria, a multi-tribal household at that; where she was raised by both parents James Alade (father) and Helen Uzoma (mother).

Her father James Alade is a native of Ondo State where he was a commissioner of police and her mother Helen Uzoma is a native of Abia State – both in Nigeria, Yoruba, and Igbo respectively. Yemi Alade has confirmed she has learned both tongues of her parents.

She was born on the 13th of March 1989.

Yemi Alade Educational Background

Yemi Eberechi Alade made use of 6 years to pursue her secondary School education at Victory Grammar School in Ikeja, Lagos after which she proceeded to the University of Lagos to acquire a Degree in Geography.

Yemi Alade Music Career

Yemi Eberechi Alade was at that time a student at the University of Lagos when she broke into the Music Industry.

Her debut album, King of Queens was released on the 2nd of October 2014. The album was in collaboration with many famed music artists and producers Like Young D, Selebobo, Mr Chidoo, Philikeyz, Fliptyce, Beat Nation, and few Others.

Before the release of her debut album was her hit singles Johnny, Kissing, Tangerine. The Singles welcomed the likes of Phyno, Chidinma, Bovi, Selebobo, R2Bees, and Diamond Platnumz. Her tour to Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa was a promotion process for her new album.

Almost 2 years after the release of her first album, Yemi Alade announced the release of another album, Mama Africa which is dated back to 25 March 2016, A song that focuses on the weakness and the strength of African Ladies.

The album combines components of highlife, Afropop, R&B, hip-hop, and pop. Yemi Alade has said recording the album was a struggle because she was continually traveling to different countries every day. She likewise said she recorded the album to “capture all of Africa on a CD”.

Yemi Alade revealed to The Fader magazine she teamed up with fellow artists from West Africa, East Africa, and South Africa. She enrolled GospelOnDeBeatz, Selebobo, DJ Coublon, Philkeyz, BeatsByEmzo, Rotimi Keys, Masterkraft and Mr. Chidoo to deliver the album.

Mama Africa welcomed visitor appearances from Sarkodie , P-Square, Sauti Sol, Dj Arafat, Rotimi Keys, Flavour N’abania, and Selebobo .

Yemi Alade‘s third studio collection Black Magic was delivered on 15 December 2017. A development to her 2017 EP Mama Africa, the album saw visitor appearances from Falz and Olamide.

Yemi Alade Personal Life

Yemi Alade isn’t hitched and there has been no genuine information on a consistent sweetheart yet she has been connected to some different famous people over the span of her distinction.

After her hit music Johnny came out, she was connected to actor Alexx Ekubo who assumed the part of the sweetheart kid in the video.

Yemi Alade Net Worth

The self-acclaimed Mama Africa, Yemi Alade has an estimated net worth valued between $1 Million – $5 Million.

Yemi Alade Music Videos

Yemi Alade DISCOGRAPHY

In preliminary to the release of her 3rd album she was featured on the Make The Future campaign organized by Shell Company in Nigeria. Yemi Eberechi Alade became the 1st of her kind from Africa to hit one million subscribers on YouTube.

On the 30th of August 2019, Woman of Steel her fourth album was released. She described the album as a “Buffet With Different Kinds of Meals and Drinks”. The song reflects her tough desire to command the same respect as the males. She released the album after realization hit her that she is a superhero of herself.

Over the recent years, Alade has signed licensing deals with many giant brands like UMA and UMG and has been receiving way too many contracts and ambassadorship from different brands and companies.

Yemi Eberechi Alade, on 5 August of 2020 released another hit single titled True Love and the song was produced by Vtek.

Albums King of Queens 2014 Mama Africa 2016 Black Magic 2017 Woman of Steel 2019 Singles Ghen Ghen Love Fimisile Johnny Tangerine Taking over Me Kissing and others Shekere (featuring Angelique Kidjo)

Yemi Alade Filmography

Home ( The Movie ) 2019 Black Is King 2020

Yemi Alade AWARDS & NOMINATIONS

• AFRIMA AWARDS
• MTV AFRICAN MUSIC AWARDS
• MTV EUROPE MUSIC AWARDS
• SOUNDCITY MVP AWARDS
• INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS
• NIGERIA ENTERTAINMENT AWARDS.

Yemi Alade NEWS

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Nigeria's Yemi Alade Opens Up About Her Rise To Afropop Superstardom & Her Unique Connection With Her Fans

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• Birth Name : Yemi Eberechi Alade
• Country : Nigeria
• Genres : Afro Pop , Afrobeat , Pop
• Views : 17,559

Yemi Eberechi Alade  (born 13 March 1989), simply known as  Yemi Alade , is a Nigerian  Afro pop  singer and songwriter. She gained prominence after winning the  Peak Talent Show  in 2009, and is best known for her hit single "Johnny".

Yemi Eberechi Alade was born on March 13, 1989 in Abia State, Nigeria. Her father James Alade is of Yoruba origin while her mother Helen Uzoma is of Igbo origin resulting in her being referred as "Yoruba-Igbo girl". Alade is the fifth out of the seven children in her family. She attended St Saviour British Primary School, then went on to Victory Grammar School, Lagos, before obtaining a degree in Geography at the University of Lagos.

Music career

Alade made her musical debut in an all-girl group called Noty Spices in 2005, but her music became widely popular after she won the  Peak Talent Show  in 2009. She later released her first single "Fimisile" under the Jus' Kiddin' label.

In 2012, she signed onto the music label, Effyzzie Music Group, and released her single "Ghen Ghen Love".

In July 2013, Alade released the video for her romantic afro-R&B song "Bamboo", produced by Fliptyce. "Bamboo" went on to be a moderate hit and a popular wedding song. In the last quarter of 2013, she broke records when her most recent hit single, "Johnny", produced by  Selebobo , was leaked on the internet. The song became an international smash hit as it dominated music charts in Tanzania, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, Liberia, Uganda, Zimbabwe, and the United Kingdom, among others. It has been listed as one of the best songs of 2013, despite the fact that it was released towards the end of the year and without a music video.

Alade has been featured on the covers of several magazines and performed around the world, sharing the stage and songs with Mary J. Blige, Shina Peters,  M.I ,  Wizkid , Becca, May D,  Waje  and Yemi Sax. She also headlined the Super Diva’s Nite at the 2013 Calabar Festival, and opened for the 2013 Headies Awards (popularly referred to as the "Nigerian Grammys").

In 2014, Alade was featured on Yung6ix’s track "Lights", as well as on a remix of "Sebiwo" by Beninese afropop star Lace. Alade teamed up with award-winning cinematographer Clarence Peters to create a music video for "Johnny", which was released in March 2014 to critical acclaim and now has more than 32 million views on YouTube, as of December 2015.

Alade joined M.I, Waje,  Timi Dakolo , and  Burna Boy  in singing the theme song for Port Harcourt, the UNESCO 2014 World Book Capital, as part of a project urging young people to read and stay in school. Shortly after that, Alade released a new single entitled "Tangerine", featuring Selebobo; the critically acclaimed track charted across Africa. She appeared as a guest artist on  Falz ’s debut album.

She released her debut album,  King of Queens , on 2 October 2014, and then went on tour. Yemi Alade then released her second studio album, titled “Mama Africa”, in March 2016.

Discography

• King of Queens  (2014)
• Mama Africa  (2016)

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Yemi Alade: Unapologetic. African. Taking Over the World

Yemi Alade, also known as ‘Mama Africa’ among her fans, is a remarkable artist who exudes both regal and down-to-earth qualities. Despite her global success, she has never lost touch with her roots, and remains accessible to her loyal audience, defying all industry norms. With an undying love for Africa and its people, she pours her heart and soul into her art, driven by an unwavering passion to create meaningful and impactful music. As she speaks about her journey, it becomes clear that Yemi Alade is not just a music icon, but a true ambassador of African culture and values.

At the gallery where we are shooting the inaugural cover story for Marie Claire Nigeria, there is a sense of quiet awe when our cover star, Yemi Alade, enters the room. She is accompanied by her brother and entourage, who are respectful but reverent as they chaperone her through the photoshoot and interview. Their reverence is earned; Yemi Alade, who is fondly referred to by her fans as ‘Mama Africa’,  is at once regal yet grounded, a global superstar who has managed, against all conventional wisdom, to remain accessible to her core audience. Understanding how she came to bear this honorific, once bestowed on the grand dame, Mariam Makeba, was our way to understand the woman Yemi Alade.

“Mama Africa ” is not just a nickname but also the title of one of my favourite albums. I travelled around Africa a lot at that point in my career, and one day one of my friends hit me up and asked, ‘Mama Africa, where are you today?’.”

That conversation was the start of a movement for Yemi. It felt right, but she knew that she needed to find her purpose to earn the honour of being called ‘Mama Africa’. It became clear to her that her purpose as a performing artist was to share her experience of Africa and tell its stories through her music.

Pursuing that purpose has made Yemi Alade an icon in the music industry, not just in Nigeria but across the African continent and beyond. She is known for her vibrant and energetic performances, as well as her powerful voice and her ability to sing in several African languages, including Yoruba, French, and Swahili. Her music is a fusion of traditional African rhythms and modern pop sounds, with themes of empowerment, self-love, and celebrating African culture. It has taken 14 years and an incredible amount of ambition and consistency to reach these heights of fame.

Blazer- Jason Porshe. Pants- Henry Uduku. Shoes- Gbemisoke Shoes. Accessories- Tiffeny Official

But Yemi isn’t any ordinary pop star. She speaks about her love for the beauty and wonder that defines our cultures across Africa and her commitment to promoting it through her music. Despite her incredible success in the 12 years she has been active as a recording artist, she has never received any support from a major music label. She remains independent, signed to Effyzie Music Group. Of course, it helps that she is a polyglot, proficient in several languages, including Igbo, Yoruba, French, Portuguese, Spanish and English, with medium proficiency in others. Languages feature prominently in her music and have helped her music cross over into Francophone, Lusophone Africa, and Europe.

“I really love languages. My mom as well is very gifted with languages. She speaks about six or seven; I think it’s a DNA thing. Before I started travelling the world, I realised that I used to think that Africans didn’t speak French or didn’t speak Portuguese. But the more I travelled, language was a bigger barrier than geography. A fellow Nigerian cannot go to Cameroon and have a good time because he can’t speak French. Languages have become the barrier that we need to tear down. “

Yemi started incorporating different African languages into her music to break down the language barriers between Africans and unite the continent through music. This commitment to African unity and cultural diversity is also evident in Yemi Alade’s collaborations with other African artists. Having worked with artists such as Jah Prayzah, Harmonize, Mafikizolo, Awilo Logomba, Bomba Estéreo, Beyonce, Angélique Kidjo, Rick Ross, and Dadju, to name a few. It is a diverse list, tied together by one cardinal rule; “It’s a well-known fact that for me to be on a song with anyone, I must first be a fan because it makes it possible for the music to be genuine”. She also chooses to work with artists whose catalogues are sung in either their country’s lingua franca or indigenous language. “Because I travel a lot, the best way to leave a lasting impression with my music would be to collaborate with musicians who call these countries home.”

She tells us that an added benefit to collaborating intentionally is that she gets to experience other parts of Africa like a local, chaperoned by these artists who are beloved in their home countries and patriotic about promoting their true complexities. Living in these African countries as the locals do elevates the interactions. It has allowed Yemi to experience the continent’s most beautiful aspects: the people, their wonderful cultures and their national identities. It has also enriched her live performances, which are electrifying and brimming with contagious energy.

Dress- Wanni Fuga. Slippers- Gbemisoke Shoes. Accessories- Tiffeny Official.

To prepare for her shows, Yemi puts in a lot of effort and planning, working closely with her band and dancers to perfect her set. She also pays attention to her fashion choices, ensuring she looks and feels confident on stage because she absolutely has to “show up”.

Despite Yemi Alade’s commitment to her Pan-African values and the grace with which she has handled unprecedented fame, she has consistently dealt with negative feedback. Her love for African culture defines her music and informs her fashion choices. But only some appreciate her point of view. On the other hand, some have criticised her for being unapologetic in promoting African culture. The Afro-pop star has also faced bullying that targeted her appearance and politics.

“I have been called many names, both directly and indirectly, and most of it is because of how unapologetic I am about my commitment to wholeheartedly love and champion Africa. I have this favourite name that I’ve been called; ‘international Garri Seller’. But I always say, garri no dey do advert, but e dey sell pass for market. You know what I mean? So, yeah, having been called names, I have also been criticised for being young and portraying such an older persona. But that is because I am carrying generations before me and making the way clear for generations after me.”

As one of the first contemporary Nigerian pop stars to pivot away from Eurocentric beauty standards and showcase the diversity and authenticity of African beauty and culture, Yemi understands what is truly at stake. With each project, she has devoted more time and attention to extolling the virtues of Afrocentric features and pushing back against harmful beauty practices that reinforce Eurocentric beauty standards. She is just as adventurous with her fashion, embracing edgy and colourful trends that challenge conventions. Her stage costumes are a testament to her creativity, and she works closely with her team of designers and stylists to bring her ideas to life. Yemi is delighted to have contributed in her own way to this change and enjoys witnessing women from all walks of life embracing their natural features and cultural heritage.

“Representation is very fundamental in the world. I know how I feel when I arrive at international airports and see a model that looks like me, with my big broad forehead and beautiful melanin skin. I feel better about myself when I see these features being put up there, even for one or two seconds. So I take every opportunity to put that kind of positive representation into the world.”

This unique but shared continental perspective inspires a lot of Yemi’s storytelling. It motivates her to use her fame and influence to impact the lives of those she meets. She uses her music and voice to raise awareness of social justice and political activism, hoping to impact society positively. She strongly advocates for Pan-Africanism and has lent her star power to many philanthropic projects, including campaigns by the United Nations. She has donated proceeds from her critically acclaimed ‘ Mama Africa’  album to the non-profit #FeedAChild, and physically visited Haiti after devastating floods to lend her support and visit with victims.

Over the past decade, Yemi Alade has evolved as an artist, both musically and personally. She has learnt to create clear boundaries between her work and personal life and enforce them, even at the risk of losing money. She has also taken an active interest in philanthropy, using her music to comment on societal issues that affect her and those around her. She has even opened herself up to musical experimentation, even though her core sound remains rooted in high life and dance hall, which are integral to her music and identity.

This article was culled from Marie Claire Nigeria . Read the full article here .

Marie Claire Nigeria is under the license of The Guardian Newspapers.

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Interview: Yemi Alade

‘I draw my inspiration from life itself. It also comes from third-party experiences and some fiction. I’m a creative, I might as well create my world, right?’

• By Sam Ilori
• 24 Nov 2020

Leading up to the release of her 5th studio album Empress , Sam Ilori caught up with ‘Mama Africa’ herself, Yemi Alade, to talk current events, how she has been affected by the pandemic, her musical inspiration and what we can expect from the new record.

'Music is definitely my passion for life. I’m passionate about being able to light someone else’s candle and genuinely help pave the way for African music.'

Sam: We have the illustrious, the one and only Woman of Steel with us today. If you’d be so kind, please introduce yourself.

Yemi: Fantastic, my name is Yemi Alade. I am a musician, I love music. I am Nigerian by birth and I am unapologetically African. It doesn’t get better than that.

Sam: I love that. Thank you again. As a fellow Nigerian, I am familiar with offering the courtesy of calling you 'Aunty' as a gesture of respect. I haven’t yet been back home, but nevertheless how would you like to be addressed?

Yemi: (Laughter) Get over here. I would say that even though you haven’t been to Nigeria, it’s a great thing that you’re still representing in your own way. We definitely count on every one of us in the diaspora to do so. In terms of how you’d address me… just call me Yemi Alade or Yemi for short.

Sam: How would you say this global pandemic has affected you with regards to your creative process, music and life in general?

Yemi: It’s a very different time that we live in right now. Most importantly, I find that health is sincerely wealth. All this while, we’ve been using the term but it resonates differently in 2020. I’d say the biggest impact has come in the form of shows being cancelled. In February, I was supposed to start my tour but the pandemic has turned those plans to dust. It has been postponed hopefully, until 2021.

Sam: What influenced your decision to get into music. Is there a specific individual responsible for helping you begin your musical journey?

Yemi: It all started with my background. My mum has always been a huge lover of music, always listened to it. She consistently encouraged me as a child to participate in shows whilst in primary and secondary school. As I grew older I was in the church choir then at university, I participated in a talent show. Before that, I’d just been singing for fun as a hobby. I literally had no intention of becoming an artist, it wasn’t the plan, but when I won a talent show in 2009 I realised this was my calling.

A few years later, I met Effyzzie Music Group who assisted in moulding my craft, raw talent, and also provided musical direction. They tried to make sure that I was myself, authentic.

I would say my team, personal experiences, reading up on experiences of others and going where the love is, has helped to put my career together.

Sam: If it wasn’t music, what would you have gone into? Were you studying anything specific or did you have any other aspirations?

Yemi: Yes. I love food (Laughter). I probably would have been doing something in the catering industry, but I have my BSc in geography, so I definitely would have been doing something in the sector or meteorology and would have made use of my BSc.

Sam: I had the pleasure of listening to the album and I genuinely enjoyed it. What would you say is different about this album for you?

Yemi: I always feel like every album I’ve ever released has been a reflection of the artist I am and my thoughts at that point in time. It’s like a little piece of me that I’m sharing with the world. For example, the difference between, Woman of Steel and Empress would be the dancehall influence on the Empress album. There are hints of dancehall in almost 70 percent of the songs on the album which I’d say is the first difference.

The second would be the genre selection, the groove and pattern of lyrical delivery, It’s simply mind-blowing. It was so difficult choosing the sounds that are currently on Empress but it’s just another step after Woman of Steel in my life.

Sam: My favourite track is Dancina, what’s yours?

Yemi: Oh, no, that’s not fair. (Laughter). I believe there’s a song for every mood. So, depending on how I feel it can change… right now Ice is my favourite.

'I am honestly just living my life, enjoying my artistry, sharing my creativity with the world and with that comes the nickname ‘Mama Africa’, even though I’m still a young lady.'

Sam: How long did it take you to put the album together?

Yemi: There are two or three songs that were probably recorded a year ago, but the majority were recorded this year. We went to Amsterdam specifically to record the album, get away and see how it could generate some new vibes. It makes the album super fresh. I love that.

My management thought that it was very important for the album to be released this year, despite everything that’s going on. The idea was that it was created this year and should be for the people this year, which is what we felt was needed. One of the songs on the album entitled True Love , is a song of happiness and that is what people need the most right now. Who would have thought that just being alive and the little things in life would literally define happiness? So, putting all of that into music and sharing it with the world was essential for me. I believe more music never hurt anybody.

Sam: That’s a fact! I’ve done my research and I know you speak a plethora of   languages. How many do you speak and, on average, how long does it take to learn?

Yemi: Learning languages is like a lifetime job. It’s crazy how you can understand a language and when you aren't in constant conversations with that particular language, you start to forget. I think learning how to speak any language would take a lifetime to truly get it. At current, I speak English, pidgin English, Igbo, Yoruba, French, Swahili and Portuguese.

Sam: Where do you draw your inspiration from as an artist?

Yemi: I draw my inspiration from life itself. It also comes from third-party experiences and some fiction. I’m a creative, I might as well create my world, right? I get a lot of inspiration from my fans too of course.

Sam: What has made you collaborate with so many other artists outside of Nigeria?

Yemi: I’ve always gone where the love is. It might seem like I have quite a number of collaborations but compared to some artists I don’t feel I have as many. It can be difficult with a busy schedule like mine as I receive bookings from all over the world. Being able to produce a record and follow through on a collaboration can be a task in itself, because collaborations aren’t as simple as calling and saying ‘come to the studio.’ The artists must have time in their schedule to show up and perform. It’s a challenging process, especially when you’re dealing with a certain calibre of artist, but yes, my collaborations are based off where the love is, and I’m thankful for the love that I’ve received so far. I can’t wait for more.

Sam: You have also collaborated with one of the biggest artists in the world, Beyoncé. Some would say, ‘I’ve done the song with Beyoncé, I can retire happy.’ Is that the case for you and, if not, who else would you like to collaborate with?

Yemi: I totally get that and it’s okay for anyone to say ‘Hey, this is all I need in life,’ after a collaboration with a globally recognised artist, but that’s not me. My thirst for music exceeds just collaborating with other artists but I definitely have a long list of artists I’d love to collaborate with. I am looking forward to possibly collaborating with Bruno Mars and Rihanna one day.

Sam: We look forward to that, we’ve got the exclusive here at M Magazine that Yemi Alade is going to have a collaboration with Bruno Mars and Rihanna one day.

Yemi: That’s what’s up. (Laughter)

Sam: How do you feel you’ve impacted the African music scene and the wider music industry with your music?

Yemi: Well, impacting the African music scene is definitely not an overnight job. I think if it happens, it happens. I am honestly just living my life, enjoying my artistry, sharing my creativity with the world and with that comes the nickname ‘Mama Africa’, even though I’m still a young lady. I guess that goes to show that Africa appreciates my efforts. The people I am most excited and most elated to inspire are the kids, the little boys and girls who are able to see how my life and career have blossomed. I hope that definitely encourages them to push a little more, to aim for the sky and never think less of themselves. I’m still a girl next door, despite the accolades I’ve been gifted over time. So, I think that is the impact that I have had in Africa, other than sharing my beautiful music. In terms of impacting the world in general, I think Africa is always in need of representation and I’m super excited to be representing Africa in full force.

Sam: Do you have a passion outside of music?

Yemi: Music is definitely my passion for life. I’m passionate about being able to light someone else’s candle and genuinely help pave the way for African music. I think that really warms up my heart, just knowing that being there for someone has made their life a little more comfortable. I am thankful that I am now a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations and little by little, my dreams are beginning to come true in that aspect.

'I’ve been around the world and I’ve seen and experienced a lot of things. I’ve just tried to put it all in my music on this album.'

Sam: What would your message be to your younger self trying to get into the music industry?

Yemi: ‘Yemi, stop doubting yourself. Keep believing, you’re on the right path. You have exactly what you need to get to your desired destination. You’re doing well, pat yourself on the back.’

Sam: And a message to an older you, let’s say five years from now?

Yemi: ‘Wow, you achieved all of this at such a young age. Who knows what else is in store. Keep believing, keep dreaming. Also, look back at the people that you opened the door for.’ Yes, thank God for life.

Sam: What can we expect from the album?

Yemi: In such a short time, I’ve been around the world and I’ve seen and experienced a lot of things. I’ve just tried to put it all in my music on this album. Most especially, with the goal of making sure that you’re dancing while listening to it, so get ready to rhumba.

Sam: Get ready to rhumba indeed. It has been a pleasure Yemi, Aunty, Mama Africa, we thank you.

Yemi: Thank you so much Sam, and to PRS for the support in the past, presently and in the future. We hope for more avenues to do bigger and better things to promote afrobeats and to bless the world with music. God bless.

Empress  is out now on Effyzzie Music.

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Yemi Alade Biography: How Old Is The Shekere Singer And Where Is She From?

Yemi Alade (born 13 March 1989), is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, actress, and activist who gained public attention in 2009 when she won the Peak Talent Show. She is best known for her 2014 hit single “Johnny”.

With over 14.8 million social media followers and fans hovering over her social media handle, Yemi is a darling and a delight to behold among her fans across the African continent and beyond.

The pretty and talent-driven singer has made an indelible mark in Nigerian Afropop music as she is highly appreciated and loved within the Nigerian entertainment scene. The Shekere singer announced her entry into the Nigerian music industry for the first time in the year 2009 when her incredible talent won her an award in the Peak Talent show. She has since then become widely known and highly influential with as many as five hit albums to her credit.

Biography and Profile Summary of Yemi Alade

• Name: Yemi Eberechi Alade
• Date of Birth: 13th March 1989
• Age: 35​ years old
• Place of Birth: Abia State
• State of Origin: Ondo State
• Nationality: Nigerian
• Parents: James and Helen Alade
• Education: Victory Grammar school Lagos
• Alma Mater: University of Lagos
• Occupation: Singer, Songwriter, Actress
• Genre: Afropop, R&B
• Record Label: Effizzy music Universe music
• Net Worth: $5 million

Yemi Alade Is Of Mixed Ethnicity

Yemi Eberechi Alade was born on 13th March 1989 to parents James Alade and Helen Uzoma in the eastern state of Abia, Nigeria. Yemi is of mixed Yoruba and Igbo ethnicity. Her father James Alade is a native of Ondo State, in the Western part of the country. He was quite prominent in the past as he is a former Commissioner of Police. Her mother, on the other hand, hails from Abia State in Eastern Nigeria.

Yemi happens to be the fifth child in the family of seven. She was raised along with her siblings under a peaceful family environment of love and strong bonds, created by her parents. Though she was born in Abia State, the singer spent a better part of her childhood and teenage years in Lagos. Owing to the fact that the singer speaks and sings both in Yoruba and Igbo languages, many of her fans seem to be confused as to whether she is an Igbo woman. To clear the air on this, Yemi Alade is of mixed ethnicity and this explains the mystery behind her unique ability to easily surf between these two dominant Nigerian languages fluently.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Yemi Alade (@yemialade)

Who Are Yemi Alade’s Siblings?

As we mentioned earlier, the singer is the fifth child in a family of seven. She has four brothers and two sisters. Not much is known about her siblings or their whereabouts or endeavors. However, about two of Yemi’s siblings are known by some people. We have not confirmed this, but a certain Jessica Ejiofor whose social media handle we’re yet to get is said to be a sister to the singer.

Also, Yemi is said to have a brother in the Nigerian Police Force. His name is Durojaiye Alade. Mr. Durojaiyei is a younger brother to the singer. Taking after their late father, he is an officer of the law and reportedly holds the position of Assistant Superintendent in the police.

The public got to see Yemi’s siblings during the burial of her father who died of stroke years back. A family photo that included all her family members surfaced online that period and it was then that the public saw that the singer is one of the youngest. Yemi Alade on her mother’s birthday in October 2021 also posted a photo of her with her mother and some of her brothers.

Her Multi-Ethnic Background Helped Shape Her Into The Versatile Act She Is Today

It is true that Igbo and Yoruba are among the most dominant languages in Nigeria. Be that as it may, Yemi Alade has been able to leverage her multi-ethnic background in her journey to fame. She is often referred to by her close associates as the Igbo-Yoruba girl and this tag to her name only inspired her to do more exploits with her god-given talent.

Miss Alade’s mixed identity afforded her an added advantage to excel in the Nigerian music industry by widening her horizon through doing a mix of the two languages in her songs. Also, she has made a great impact both in Yoruba and Igbo communities through her music as well as in Africa and beyond. It is also interesting to know that the Shekere Singer also sings in other languages such as French, Swahili, and Portuguese. She was able to do this after touring countries that speak the languages.

Yemi Alade Started Her Music Career At the Age of 20

Upon her graduation from secondary school, Yemi gained admission into the prestigious University of Lagos. Although she had her mind focused on music, she still gave attention to her education and later bagged a degree in Geography. Little wonder, many of her fans have always noticed the positive influence of her education on her musical career.

The queen of Afropop has always loved music. From an early age, she would write about everything life brought her way, as well as other constructions from her deepest thoughts. She would later start her music career in 2009. That year, she participated in and won the Peak Talent Show which earned her wide recognition in the entertainment industry. With this win, she started to gain momentum and soon got signed to a record deal with Effizzie Music Group where she got to harness her potentials and rise to great heights.

Her Hit Song “Johnny” Brought Her Fame and She Became A Household Name

The career progression of Yemi Alade took a positive turn in 2013 upon the release of her hit single “Johnny”. The track became a huge success, as it was one of the most played songs of that year. It also topped most music charts across the country. This spontaneously thrust her into fame and made her a household name.

Johnny was released as the lead single of the singer’s debut album, King of Queens, officially released in 2014. The song which was comedy themed was produced by Selebobo and directed by Clarence Peters and had appearances by popular stars like Bovi, Alexx Ekubo , and Beverly Osu. Yemi Alade went ahead to release the French version of the same track and became the first Nigerian artist to do a song in French.

Johnny subsequently became the most viewed on YouTube and earned the singer two major award nominations, Best Pop Single and Song of the Year at the prestigious Headies Awards.

Yemi Alade Has So Far Released Five Albums and Two Extended Plays

It is interesting to know that today, the Afropop diva prides herself with five groundbreaking albums, making waves online and offline. Yemi’s debut studio album which included the popular ‘Johnny’ was released October 2, 2014, and was tagged King of Queens . It was a massive success as it got the professional touch of several well-known producers and artists in the likes of Young D, GospelOnDeBeatz, Phyno, and Chidinma among others. Also, she promoted the album through music tours across Africa, and the album was said to have sold over a million copies.

Yemi later dropped her second album, Mama Africa , on 25th March 2016. The inspiration behind the album is to portray the strengths and weaknesses of women in Africa. It also featured different famous African artists and was equally a hit album. Mama Africa which was a massive hit was produced by GospelOnDeBeatz, Selebobo, Coublon, Philkeys, BeatsByEmzo, Mr. Chidoo, Mastercraft, and Rotimi Keys. It had amazing tracks like “Na Gode”, “Ferrari”, “Kom Kom”, “Do As I Do”, “Africa”, and “Tumbum”.

A year after the release of Mama Africa, Yemi Alade thrilled fans with yet another album, Black Magic , which dropped on December 15, 2017. The album also came with more added African vibes. On a different scene, Yemi made history in 2019 by becoming the first African female artist to reach 1 million YouTube subscribers.

Ms. Alade further released two more incredible albums; Woman of Steel that dropped on 30th August 2019 and featured the American hip hop star Rick Ross and other African stars. It was followed by her fifth studio album Empress , released on November 17, 2020, amidst the Covid-19 pandemic that had plagued Nigeria, as well as the whole world.

The ace singer went on to wow the public with yet another body of work in 2021. On August 13, 2021, Yemi Alade released the Extended Play Queendoncom. The album had the following captivating tracks: Ogogoro , Sweety , Ella , Ike , Dada , Fire , and Enjoyment . It has been an interesting journey for Yemi and she has clearly shown that there’s no stopping her.

‘Shekere’ Featuring Angelique Kidjo Was A Big Hit For The Renowned Singer

Included in her Woman of Steel album is “Shekere”, a powerful track that she recorded with Angelique Kidjo. Due to her love for Africa, Yemi Alade finds pleasure in collaborating with African stars. Her hit song Shekere was one of such collaborations. The Afropop goddess featured the Beninese veteran artist on the track that was produced by DJ Coublon. Yemi has admitted to being inspired by Kidjo, which is the motive behind the collaboration.

For Shekere, the singer and songwriter showed that she is not called Mama Africa for nothing. Drawing inspiration from different African cultures, Yemi Alade went native as she adorned herself with costumes that represented the Maasai tribe of Kenya. The video was also shot in Kenya and saw Yemi transform into a dance goddess as she combined different African dances.

The song is a remix of Kidjo’s legendary track “Wombo Lombo”. Reports have it that Shekere was made after the multiple Grammy award-winning Kidjo requested that Yemi Alade reworks her masterpiece. The renowned Nigerian Afropop star who has always admired Kidjo from childhood jumped at the opportunity to do a song with her. The collaboration as we saw, was a huge success and equally amplified the Woman of Steel album.

One of the highlights of the aftermath of Shekere’s release was when Yemi Alade gave an outstanding performance of the song at the “Global Goal: Unite for Our Future” concert on June 27, 2020. The virtual concert which was a form of campaign for communities affected by the covid-19 pandemic also saw the performance of A-list stars like Shakira, Miley Cyrus, Jennifer Houston, Justin Bieber and Quavo, and many others.

The 35​ Year Old Singer Has Numerous Awards and Recognitions To Her Name

The bare fact that Yemi Alade is one of the most recognized Nigerian female artists cannot be overemphasized. Therefore, it is not out of place to say that the talented singer has so far garnered as many awards and nominations to last her a lifetime. In fact, she has become such a regular face on the red carpet that there is no single musical award event in Nigeria that she has not been listed in one category or the other.

Yemi has her craft, her drive, and her passion to thank for where she has gotten so far. To mention a few, here is a list of some of her awards:

•  MTV Africa Music Award: Best female artist twice in 2015 and 2016
• The Headies: Best performer thrice – 2017, 2018, and 2019 consecutively.
• Afrima award 2015, 2018: Best Female Artist in West Africa and Best female artist respectively.
• Independent Music Awards: Best Album world beat 2016.
• The Headies: Hip hop world revelation of the year 2015.

Similarly, Yemi Alade has a long list of nominations. Notable among them include

• Best African Act – MTV Europe Music Awards 2015
• Best International Act Africa – BET 2015
• Artiste of the Year – African Muzik Magazine Awards (AFRIMMA) 2019; The Headies 2015, 2016
• Best Live Act – AFRIMMA 2019
• Best Female Western Africa – AFRIMMA 2019
• African Artiste of the Year – Soundcity MVP Awards; 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020
• Digital Artiste of the Year – Soundcity MVP Awards; 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020

Others include nominations at Net Honours, ELOY Awards, MOBO awards, YEM awards, etc. Without any doubt, it could be clearly seen that Yemi Alade is a determined woman who against all odds has risen into greatness as an inspirational singer as well as an epitome of success in the Nigerian music industry, serving as a role model and mentor to vulnerable African women.

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Yemi Alade Biography: Age, Net Worth, Boyfriend, Parents, Siblings, Education, Cars & House

Yemi Alade Biography

Popular questions, basic information.

Yemi Eberechi Alade, popularly known as Yemi Alade is a Nigerian singer and songwriter who attained international recognition following the release of her hit song, “Johnny” in 2014. She is considered one of Africa ’s biggest stars due to her influence across various parts of the world. She is also known for the two commercially successful albums, “Queen”, and “Mama Africa”. Yemi Alade was part of a number of African musicians featured on Beyoncé’s Lion King soundtrack album, “The Gift” in 2019. She also featured in the Disney film, Black Is King which gained positive reviews from critics.

Early Life & Career

Yemi Alade was born and raised in a multi-tribal home. Her father, James Alade is from Ondo State, and her mother, Helen Uzoma is from Abia State. Alade took part in and won the Peak Talent Show while she was in university. As a result, she got signed to Effyzzie Music Group.

Alade’s debut album was released in 2014. It spawned the hit singles “Johnny”, “Tangerine” and “Kissing”, and reportedly sold 100,000 copies, according to A Nation of Billions . Her sophomore album, “Mama Africa” was released in March 2016. It charted in Germany, Malaysia and France. She followed it up with “Black Magic” in 2017, and “Woman Of Steel” in 2019.

In 2019, she contributed to the Lion King soundtrack album “The Gift” curated by Beyoncé. In 2020, she released her 5th studio album, “Empress”.

Yemi Alade is the recipient of various award nominations. Alade won the MTV Africa Music Awards for Best Female in 2015 and 2016 consecutively. She became the first female artiste to win the award twice. Alade was also nominated for the Artiste of the Year award in 2015.

In 2015, she became the first female Nigerian artiste to be nominated for “Best African Act” at the MTV Europe Music Awards. Alade was also nominated for the BET Awards Best International Act in 2015 and 2016.

Known for her creative stage performances, Alade has won the Headies Award for Best Performer twice, in 2018 and 2019. Alade has also won several other awards all over Africa including the Afrimma Awards, SoundCity MVP Awards, Independent Music Awards, and more.

Yemi Alade attended secondary school at Victory Grammar School, Ikeja. After graduating, she studied at the University of Lagos.

Yemi Alade’s family comprises herself, her mother, her late father and her siblings, details about whom are given below.

Yemi Alade is currently left with her mother, having lost her father a while back.

Yemi Alade’s mother is an Igbo lady known as Helen Uzoma.

Yemi Alade’s father was a police officer named James Alade. A retired police commissioner. James Alade died in 2015.

Yemi Alade has siblings, none of whom is as famous as she is. She has a sister called Jessica Ejiofor and a brother known as Seyi Alade. It’s unclear what the names of the others are.

At the time of writing, Yemi Alade had no children. She has, however, not ruled out having children at some point.

Yemi Alade loves life and shows that love in her worldly goods, encapsulating choice cars, including a Lamborghini, and expensive properties in some exclusive locations in Nigeria.

Yemi Alade is known to keep her personal life private and away from the public eye. However, she has been linked to a few male Nigerian celebrities. It is yet to be confirmed if she actually dated them.

They include actor, Alex Ekubor who appeared as her love interest in the music video for “Johnny”, indigenous rapper, Phyno who she collaborated with in “Taking Over”, and singer, Flavour N’abania.

Alade and Nigerian dancehall star, Patoranking sparked romance rumours in 2020 following the release of the latter’s music video for “Mon Bébé”. No one knows who Yemi Alade is actually dating.

The exact estimate of Yemi Alade’s net worth is unknown. However, Legit NG estimates her wealth to be around $4 million. Alade has neither confirmed nor refuted these claims.

The singer reportedly has a house in Lagos, where she is based, and Abia, the home state of her mother Helen.

Yemi Alade is the owner of several luxury cars including a Lexus GX 460, The Lamborghini Huracán, Mercedes Benz Wagon GLE, Toyota Prado SUV, and the Toyota Tundra.

Are Yemi Alade and Patoranking married?

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• By Heran Mamo , Dan Rys
• Jul 31, 2023 2:16 pm

You Have to See Yemi Alade’s Feel-Good Performance of ‘Shekere’ For ‘Global Goal: Unite for Our Future’

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• Jun 27, 2020 4:54 pm

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Yemi Alade Biography: Inside The Life Of Nigerian Singer

by PH 1.2k Views

Yemi Alade is one of the top and talented Nigeria hip hop singer. She has contributed a lot in industry that gives other female assurance that they can also make it.

Yemi Eberechi Alade, better known as Yemi Alade, is a Nigerian Afropop singer and songwriter who was born on March 13, 1989. Her father, James Alade, was a commissioner of police of Yoruba descent, and her mother is of Igbo descent. She was born in Abia but grew up in Ondo. Yemi is the fifth of her family’s seven children.

She attended St. Saviour British Primary School and Victory Grammar School for her secondary in Lagos. She later further to the University of Lagos where she studied Geography.

Musical Career

Yemi Alade began her career as a member of the girl group Noty Spices before winning the Peak Talent Show in 2009.

Effyzzie Music Group signed Yemi Alade in 2012 and released her single “Ghen Ghen Love.” She later released another single, “Bamboo,” produced by Fliptyce, which became a wedding song. She followed up with “Johnny,” which was produced by Selebobo and became a hit and trend throughout Africa, as well as parts of America and Europe. On YouTube, the video received over 100 million views.

Yemi Alade debut studio album King of Queens was released on October 2, 2014, collaborated with producers such as Selebobo, Sizzle Pro, Shady Bizniz, Philkeyz, Young D, GospelOnDeBeatz, DIL, OJB Jezreel, Mr Chidoo, Fliptyce, EL Mcee and Beat Nation. She promoted the album by touring several Africa countries.

Her second studio album Mama Africa was released on March 25, 2016. Yemi said it would focus on the strengths and weaknesses of an African woman. The album combines elements of Afropop, highlife, R&B, coupé-décalé, hip-hop and pop. She collaborated with artists from West Africa, East Africa and South Africa and produced by GospelOnDeBeatz, DJ Coublon, Selebobo, Philkeyz, BeatsByEmzo, Masterkraft, Rotimi Keys and Mr. Chidoo. Collaborated artist are P-Square, Sarkodie, Sauti Sol, Flavour N’abania, Rotimi Keys, DJ Arafat and Selebobo.

Yemi’s third studio album Black Magic was released on December 15, 2017. Collaborated with Falz and Olamide produced by DJ Coublon, Vtek, Sarz, Krizbeatz, Young D, Sess, Fliptyce, IAmBeat, Philkeyz, 2Kriss and Echo. It was supported by the previously released singles “Knack Am”, “Single & Searching” and “Heart Robber”.

In July 2019, Alade became the first African female artist to reach one million subscribers on YouTube. Alade was featured on “Don’t Jealous Me”, a track from Beyoncé’s soundtrack album The Lion King: The Gift. She appeared on the track alongside Mr Eazi and Tekno.

In 2019, she released her fourth studio album, woman of steel featuring multiple award winner Angélique Kidjo, American rapper Rick Ross and Yoruba actress Funke Akindele.

Endorsement Deals

In September 2019, Yemi Alade signed a multi-year licensing agreement with Universal Music Africa (UMA) and UMG France. Yemi Alade’s exclusive worldwide record partner will be UMA, while UMG France will be the international rollout partner for all of her label releases.

Yemi Alade has gone on three world tours following her studio albums:

Mama Africa Tour

Black Magic Tour

Woman of Steel Tour

Albums & EP

King of Queens (2014)

Mama Africa (2016)

Black Magic (2017)

Woman of Steel (2019)

Mama Afrique (EP) (2017)

Selected Singles

Fimisile (2009)

Ghen Ghen Love (2013)

Tangerine (2014)

Taking Over Me (2015)

Temperature

Ferrari (2016)

Kom Kom (featuring Flavour)

Africa (featuring Sauti Sol)

Knack Am (2017)

Single and Searching

Bum Bum (2018)

Heart Robber

Bounce (2019)

Give Dem (featuring Duncan Mighty)

Remind You (2020)

Shekere (featuring Angélique Kidjo)

Promotional singles

Classic Girl Freestyle (Jidenna’s “Classic Man” cover) (2015)

Koffi Anan (Freestyle) (2016)

Get Through This (featuring Mi Casa) (2017)

Yemi Alade is one of the richest and successful female musicians in Nigeria so her net worth is $3 million.

Awards & Nomination

Won Best Female Artiste in Western Africa with (kissing) at 2015 Afrima Award

Won Best Female Artiste in Western Africa with (Oh my gosh) at 2018 Afrima Award

Won Best Female with (Herself) at 2015 MTV African Music Award

Won Best Female with (Herself) at 2016 MTV African Music Award

Nominated Artiste of the Year with (Herself) at 2016 MTV African Music Award

Won Best Album-World Beat with (Mama Africa) at 2016 Independent Music Award

Nominated Best International Act: Africa with (Herself) at 2015 BET Awards

Nominated Best International Act (Herself) at 2016 BET Awards

Nominated Female Artist of the Year with (Herself) at 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards

Won Female artiste of the year with (Herself) at 2015 Nigeria Entertainment Awards

Nominated Female Musician of the Year with (Herself) at 2014 City People Entertainment Awards

Nominated Best African Act with (Herself) at 2014 MOBO Awards

Nominated Female Artiste of the Year with (Herself) at 2012 YEM Awards

Nominated Most Promising Female with (Herself) at 2013 ELOY Awards

Nominated African Video of the Year with (Want You) at 2016 WatsUp Tv Africa Music Video Awards

Nominated Best African Female Video with (Want You) at 2016 WatsUp Tv Africa Music Video Awards

Nominated Best West African Video with (Want You) at 2016 WatsUp Tv Africa Music Video Awards

Nominated Best Afro Pop Video with (Want You) at 2016 WatsUp Tv Africa Music Video Awards

Nominated Best African Dance Video with (Want You) at 2016 WatsUp Tv Africa Music Video Awards

Nominated Best African Traditional Video with (Ferrari) at 2016 WatsUp Tv Africa Music Video Awards

Won Best Performer with (Herself) at 2017 The Headies Awards

Won Best Performer with (Herself) at 2018 The Headies Awards

Won Best Performer with (Herself) at 2019 The Headies Awards

Nominated Artiste of the Year with (Herself) at 2016 The Headies Awards

Won Hip Hop World Revelation of the Year with (Herself) at 2015 The Headies Awards

Yemi Alade’s net worth is presently estimated at $ 5 million .

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© 2024 by Jetheights.

Yemi Eberechi Alade (born 13 March 1989), is a Nigerian Afropop singer, songwriter , actress and activist . She won the Peak Talent Show in 2009 after which she signed to Effyzzie Music Group, and had a hit with her single " Johnny " in 2014. Her music which incorporates Afro; Highlife, Dancehall, Pop and R&B has been of influence in many African countries and the world as she is acclaimed "Mama Africa" for this and her versatility in using different African languages and attires in her songs and music videos [1] . She sings in English, Igbo, Pidgin, Yoruba, French, Swahili and Portuguese [2] . Alade's father was a police commissioner of Yoruba descent, while her mother is of Igbo descent. [3] [4]

Quotes [ edit ]

• NIGERIAN AFRO-POP SINGER YEMI ALADE JOINS THE DRAW THE LINE CAMPAIGN , Zero Malaria, retrieved 10 December 2022.
• Yemi Alade's quote
• “This journey called LIFE, learn to enjoy all your trials and victories.” Yemi Alade's quote

External links [ edit ]

• ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yemi_Alade#cite_note-2
• ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yemi_Alade#cite_note-3
• ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yemi_Alade#cite_note-:5-4
• ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yemi_Alade#cite_note-5

• Singer-songwriters
• Women from Nigeria
• Pop singers
• 1989 births
• Living people
• Women musicians
• Women born in the 1980s

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Yemi Alade Slays in a Gorgeous Colourful Outfit, Looks Artistic, Fans React: "Woman of Steel"

• Popular singer Yemi Alade is not relenting in her fashion game, as she is always on the lips of her fans
• This time, she decided to rock a multi-coloured outfit that comprised a trouser with a flair at the bottom and a jacket
• The singer, often called Mama Africa, gave off the African vibe in her outfit, as her fans complimented her looks

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Famous Nigerian singer Yemi Alade is always on top of her game when it comes to looking good, and she displayed her love for fashion in her latest outfit.

She wore a colourful outfit which looked lovely on her. Her hairstyle was well braided, and she packed it stylishly.

The beautiful singer, often called Mama Africa , rocked white sparkling shoes that complemented her attire . She wore dark glasses and applied makeup that highlighted her beauty.

Toyin Lawani wears animal-inspired dress, looks daring, gets fans talking: "Fashion goddess"

Her fans were in awe of her as they hailed her.

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See Yemi Alade's lovely outfit in the slides below:

Fans hail Yemi Alade's look

Several fans of the beautiful Yemi Alade have reacted to her outfit. See some of the comments below:

@honestmicah:

"Wah music video?"

"So beautiful."

@officialowengee:

"Queen Yemo abeg send me this dress make I wear after you don use am finish."

@henry_omosaye_:

"Woman of steel, nobody can take it away from you."

@only1_djteebag:

"My crush."

@brunowax.afriqua:

"@yemialade I like your fashion. We are waiting for fashion week in Africa we have to talk about it #afriqua. My love, i have missed you so much."

@benjamin_bayoma:

"@yemialade you see this life e, not because of social media you stress yourself. But we now need a new hit."

Omowunmi Ajiboye looks stunning in breathtaking birthday outfits, fans hail her: "Super gorgeous"

@syllaadams51:

"Gorgeous. You are too sweet my sweetheart."

@anewdjswift:

"Crowned Queen I love it all. Hail DJ Swift."

@rednigga95:

"Congratulations Yemi Alade your dream man as finally come true."

@vee_totheworld:

"Love you Mama Africa."

Yemi Alade slays in African-themed attire

Legit.ng earlier reported that Yemi Alade is taking her love for African fabric to another level, as it has become her trademark.

She adorned an orange and black African-themed outfit that had a bogus style and flowed to the ground.

Her fans hailed her look and commended her for taking the continent to a global stage and also giving fashion goals.

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Source: Legit.ng