30-year-old Yemi Alade is one of the notable female singers in Nigeria and also well-respected in the continent of Africa due to her Afrocentric style.
Family Background
Full name, Yemi Eberechi Alade was born on March 13, 1989 in Abia State, Nigeria to a Police Commissioner father, James Alade of Yoruba origin and her mother Helen Uzoma who’s from Igbo origin. She grew up in several Nigerian cities owing to her father’s job description as a policeman.
Education
Yemi Alade started her primary education at Saint Saviors’ British Primary School, Lagos and then Victory Grammar School, Lagos, before proceeding to the University of Lagos where she majored and graduated with a B.Sc in Geography in 2010
Music Career
Yemi Alade grew up listening to popular music of the late eighties and early nineties and singers like Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Etta James and Aretha Franklin. The captivating vocal ability she possessed placed her in the church adult choir at the age of twelve and was known to have made melodies from everyday conversations. In her words; “I’ve practically lived my life on stage”, Yemi was exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child.
She claimed the major space amongst female singers after the release of her multiple award-winning song, ‘Johnny’ in October 2013, four years after she won the popular Peak Talent Show in 2009. Before she became a notable face in the Nigerian Music Industry, Alade was an underground singer in an all-girl group themed ‘Noty Spice’ in 2005, she released her very first single titled ‘Fimisile’ in 2009 under Jus’ Kiddin’ label.
Prior the release of ‘Johnny’, Alade got a record label deal with Effyzzie Music Group in 2012, where she released a not-so-big single “Ghen Ghen Love” in 2013. Since she dropped ‘Johnny’, Alade’s journey in the music industry has been like a tree planted by the riverside that’s yielding its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.
Breakout Songs
‘Johnny’ remains Yemi Alade’s biggest breakout song ever. She made more efforts with ‘Bamboo’ (released before Johnny), ‘Koffi Anan’, ‘Ferrari’, ‘Knack Am’, ‘Bum Bum’ and ‘Oh My Gosh’, which were reviewed to be good songs, but still below ‘Johnny’.
Albums
With her debut album, ‘King of Queens’, a mix of reggae, R&B, rap, and Afro-pop, her recognition in Africa became wider. It was released on October 2, 2014.
Shortly before the release of her second studio album in March 25, 2016, she titled herself as ‘Mama Africa’, giving more focus on African-themed song, fashion and even mode of communication, without fans realizing Alade was promoting the release of her second studio album, ‘Mama Africa: The Diary of an African Woman.’
Her latest album, Black Magic, was released in 2017 after churning out successful singles before its arrival. Alade maintained her strong feat in the industry since her biggest song ever was released.
Awards/Recognitions
In 2015, Alade won the ‘Hip Hop World Revelation of the Year’. She was crowned ‘Best Female’ musician in 2015 and 2016 by MTV Africa Music Award; won The Future Awards Africa Nigeria Prize for Music; walked home with Late Ambassador Segun Olusola NBMA for Artiste of the Year –Female; Independent Music Award for Best Album – World Beat in 2016. She bagged nominations in BET Awards, MOBO Awards and ELOY Awards, just to mention a few.
Endorsements
She is the ambassador for Nairabox, Close-up Tooth paste and was the 2016 Ambassor for the African Fashion Week.
Scandals
Yemi Alade has managed to live a scandal-free life, but she had a couple of scandals in the past. She asks her fans to keep off her private life because it won’t put money in their bank accounts. When asked if she was in any relationship during a chat session with Entertainment Magazine (e247mag) in 2016, she said, “Yes, I am in a relationship, but I prefer to keep it private, no too much talk about it, besides, who I’m dating doesn’t put money in anyone’s account, so?” she quipped.
In 2018, she ‘started’ a fight with Tiwa Savage on social media over the size of their buttocks. She sent out a note of warning on twitter, asking an unknown person, suspected to be Tiwa Savage, to stop photoshopping her buttocks. “Stop increasing your ynash (buttocks) in your pictures. You know you are straight like ‘I’. Embrace your real self! Ahh ahh. Deceiving fans up and dan(down),” she wrote.
However, Tiwa thought the message was directed at her and wasted no time to react on her Instagram Stories saying, “Don’t start a war you cannot finish. Trust me I’m not the one. I’m quiet but don’t f**k with me.”
Personal Life
Yemi Alade should be given an award for keeping her man (that’s if she has any) out of public domain. She was at a time rumored to be in a relationship with her manager, Taiye Aliyu, but she said this it was a work related relationship, not romance.
She was also rumoured to be in a relationship with actor Alex Ekubo, who played her lover in ‘Johnny’ music video. Later, Yemi denied all the rumors about their possible relationships.
Yemi once admitted that she was in love with the famous Nigerian rapper Phyno and Flavour, but these were only compliments to the guys, nothing serious.
Takeaway
So far this year (2019), Alade released a single titled, ‘Yaji’ featuring Slimcase and Brainee. Her fans are still hoping the energetic singer would release another big hit.