Yemi Eberechi Alade (born 13 March 1989), is a Nigerian Afropop singer,

songwriter A songwriter is a musician who professionally composes musical compositions or writes lyrics for songs, or both. The writer of the music for a song can be called a composer, although this term tends to be used mainly in the classical music gen ...

, actress and

activist Activism (or Advocacy) consists of efforts to promote, impede, direct or intervene in social, political, economic or environmental reform with the desire to make changes in society toward a perceived greater good. Forms of activism range fro ...

. She won the ''Peak Talent Show'' in 2009 after which she signed to Effyzzie Music Group, and had a hit with her single "

Johnny Johnny is an English language personal name. It is usually an affectionate diminutive of the masculine given name John, but from the 16th century it has sometimes been a given name in its own right for males and, less commonly, females. Varian ...

" in 2014. Since then Yemi has gained prominence in the

music industry The music industry consists of the individuals and organizations that earn money by writing songs and musical compositions, creating and selling recorded music and sheet music, presenting concerts, as well as the organizations that aid, train, ...

and considered one of the biggest artists in Africa. Following the releases of her albums ''

King of Queens ''The King of Queens'' is an American television sitcom that ran on CBS from September 21, 1998, to May 14, 2007, a total of nine seasons and 207 episodes. The series was created by Michael J. Weithorn and David Litt, who also served as the sho ...

'' and '' Mama Africa'' with huge commercial success recorded for both albums, she embarked on world tours consecutively. Alade released her debut album ''King of Queens'' on 2 October 2014, and the album produced her most successful single

and other singles like "Kissing", "Tangerine" and "Taking Over Me" featuring

Phyno Chibuzor Nelson Azubuike (born 9 October 1986), populary known as Phyno Fino, is a Nigerian rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer. He started his music career as a producer in 2003, and is renowned for rapping in the Igbo language. His ...

. The album was nominated for Album of the year at the 2015 Nigerian Entertainment Awards and the 2015 Headies Awards. On 25 March 2016, Alade released her second album titled ''Mama Africa'' which produced singles like "Na Gode", "TumBum" and "Ferrari". ''Mama Africa'' won the World beat Album on the 2016 Independent Music Awards. In 2016, she debuted on Billboard as No 4 on "Next Big Sound" Chart She won the MTV African Music Awards for Best female in 2015 and 2016 consecutively and was nominated for Artiste of the Year in 2015, making her the first female to win the MAMAs for Best female consecutively twice and nominated for Artiste of the Year. In 2015, Alade was the first African female to be nominated for the MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) and She was nominated for the BET awards for Best International Act: Africa in 2015 and 2016. Yemi is also applauded for her creative and overwhelming stage performances, fashion and music videos, She has won The Headies Award for Best Performer twice,

2018 File:2018 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in PyeongChang, South Korea; Protests erupt following the Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi; March for Our Lives protests take place across the United ...

and

2019 File:2019 collage v1.png, From top left, clockwise: Hong Kong protests turn to widespread riots and civil disobedience; House of Representatives votes to adopt articles of impeachment against Donald Trump; CRISPR gene editing first used to experim ...

. The slot was initiated at

The Headies 2018 The Headies 2018 was the 12th edition of The Headies. It was held on May 5, 2018, at the Eko Convention Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos. Nigerian comedian Bovi and singer Seyi Shay hosted the ceremony. After shortlisting thousands of entries ...

and she was the first artiste to win the category. Alade is also the second Nigerian and

Afrobeats Afrobeats (not to be confused with Afrobeat or Afroswing), or Afro-pop or Afro-fusion (or Afropop or Afrofusion), is an umbrella term to describe popular music from West Africa and the diaspora that initially developed in Nigeria, Ghana, and ...

artist and the first female to hit 100 million views for a single video on YouTube after

Davido David Adedeji Adeleke (born November 21, 1992), popularly known by his stage name Davido, is an American-Nigerian singer, songwriter and record producer. His music blends traditional African elements with global mainstream pop. Davido is widel ...

. She also has the record for the most viewed female African

music video A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a m ...

and the first Nigerian female artist to hit 1million views on YouTube in 24 hours. Alade sings in English,

Igbo Igbo may refer to: * Igbo people, an ethnic group of Nigeria * Igbo language, their language * anything related to Igboland, a cultural region in Nigeria See also * Ibo (disambiguation) * Igbo mythology * Igbo music * Igbo art * * Igbo-Ukwu, a ...

Pidgin A pidgin , or pidgin language, is a grammatically simplified means of communication that develops between two or more groups of people that do not have a language in common: typically, its vocabulary and grammar are limited and often drawn from s ...

Yoruba The Yoruba people (, , ) are a West African ethnic group that mainly inhabit parts of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. The areas of these countries primarily inhabited by Yoruba are often collectively referred to as Yorubaland. The Yoruba constitute ...

, French, Swahili and Portuguese. Her music has been of influence in many African countries and the world as she is acclaimed ''"Mama Africa"'' for her versatility in using different

African languages The languages of Africa are divided into several major language families: * Niger–Congo or perhaps Atlantic–Congo languages (includes Bantu and non-Bantu, and possibly Mande and others) are spoken in West, Central, Southeast and Southern A ...

and attires in her songs and music videos. Alade's father was a police commissioner of

descent, while her mother is of

descent. On 9 June 2020, Alade was mentioned to be among the forefront artists/musicians from across the world to perform at The Global Goal: Unite for our future sponsored by the

Global Citizen Global citizenship is the idea that one's identity transcends geography or political borders and that responsibilities or rights are derived from membership in a broader class: "humanity". This does not mean that such a person denounces or waives ...

aimed to highlight the disproportionate impact of the

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei, identified in Wuhan, China, in December ...

pandemic especially in the most remote places in Africa and across the world. On 27 June 2020, Yemi Alade performed in the Global Goal: Unite for Our future alongside

Miley Cyrus Miley Ray Cyrus ( ; born Destiny Hope Cyrus on November 23, 1992) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Known for her distinctive raspy voice, her music spans across varied styles and genres, including pop, country, rock, hip hop ...

Shakira Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll ( , ; born 2 February 1977), professionally known by the mononym Shakira, is a Colombian singer and songwriter. Born and raised in Barranquilla, she has been referred to as the " Queen of Latin Music" and is ...

J Balvin José Álvaro Osorio Balvín (born 7 May 1985), known professionally as J Balvin, is a Colombian singer and songwriter. He has been referred to as the " Prince of Reggaeton" (from Spanish: "Príncipe del Reggaetón"), and is one of the best-sell ...

Jennifer Hudson Jennifer Kate Hudson (born September 12, 1981), also known by her nickname J.Hud, is an American singer, actress, and talk show host. Throughout her career, she has received various accolades for her works in recorded music, film, televisio ...

Coldplay Coldplay are a British rock band formed in London in 1997. They consist of vocalist and pianist Chris Martin, guitarist Jonny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman, drummer Will Champion and creative director Phil Harvey. They met at University Col ...

, Usher,

Justin Bieber Justin Drew Bieber ( ; born March 1, 1994) is a Canadian singer. Bieber is recognized for his genre-melding musicianship and has played an influential role in modern-day popular music. He was discovered by American record executive Scooter ...

Quavo Quavious Keyate Marshall (born April 2, 1991), known professionally as Quavo (), is an American rapper, singer, and actor. He is best known as the co-founder and former frontman of hip hop group Migos. Quavo is the uncle of late fellow Migos m ...

Christine and the Queens Héloïse Adélaïde Letissier (; born 1 June 1988), known professionally as Christine and the Queens and Redcar, or occasionally simply Chris, is a French singer and songwriter. Born and raised in Nantes, he started learning piano at the age o ...

and

Chloe X Halle Chloe x Halle are an Contemporary R&B, R&B duo composed of sisters Chloe Bailey, Chloe and Halle Bailey. At a young age, the sisters performed in minor acting roles before moving from Mableton, Georgia, to Los Angeles in 2012. The two began post ...

. In 2022, The Scoove Africa ranked Yemi Alad
The Best Stage Performer in Nigeria
to date.

Early life

Alade was raised in a multi-ethnic home from

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

, Her father James Alade was a commissioner of police from

Ondo State Ondo State ( yo, Ìpínlẹ̀ Oǹdó) is a state in southwestern Nigeria. It was created on 3 February 1976 from the former Western State. It borders Ekiti State to the north, Kogi State to the northeast, Edo State to the east, Delta State to t ...

, Nigeria while her mother Helen Uzoma is a native of

Abia State Abia State ( ig, Ȯha Abia) is a state in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, it is bordered to the north and northeast by the states of Enugu, and Ebonyi, Imo State to the west, Cross River State to the east, Akwa Ibom State to the ...

, Nigeria. According to Yemi, She taps from the

and

ethnicities of her parents. Alade attended secondary School at Victory Grammar School, Ikeja, and the

University of Lagos The University of Lagos, popularly known as UNILAG, is a public research university located in Lagos, Nigeria and was founded in 1962. UNILAG is one of the first generation universities in Nigeria and is ranked among the top universities in th ...

, (both in

Lagos, Nigeria Lagos (Nigerian English: ; ) is the largest city in Nigeria and the second most populous city in Africa, with a population of 15.4 million as of 2015 within the city proper. Lagos was the national capital of Nigeria until December 1991 fo ...

)

Yemi Alade performing on the maiden edition of Peak Talent Show in 2009

During her university education, Alade took part in a TV talent show called ''Peak Talent Show'' where she emerged winner. That was Alade's debut appearance on TV and where she gained popularity. She was then signed to Effyzzie Music Group.

Music career

2014–2016: ''King of Queens'' and ''Mama Africa''

Alade's debut studio album ''

'' was released on 2 October 2014. Alade collaborated with producers such as

Selebobo Udoka Chigozie Oku, also known by his stage name Selebobo, is a Nigerian singer and a songwriter. Formerly signed to Made Men Music Group. Selebobo is most known for his singles, "Yoyo', "Selfie", and "Waka Waka". He has also collaborated with Fl ...

, Sizzle Pro, Shady Bizniz, Philkeyz, Young D, GospelOnDeBeatz, DIL, OJB Jezreel, Mr Chidoo, Fliptyce, EL Mcee and Beat Nation. The album was preceded by the singles "

", "Tangerine" and "Kissing". It features

guest appearances In show business, a guest appearance is the participation of an outsider performer (such as a musician or actor) in an event such as a music record or concert, show, etc., when the performer does not belong to the regular band, cast, or other ...

and skits from Bovi,

R2Bees R2Bees is a Ghanaian hip hop and hiplife duo from Tema made up of two cousins, Faisal Hakeem and Rashid Mugeez. They were nominated at the 2013 BET Awards. In March 2019, the duo released their third studio album ''Site 15''. Career 2007–2 ...

, Chidinma, DIL,

and

Diamond Platnumz Nasibu Abdul Juma Issack (born 2 October 1989), popularly known by his stage name Diamond Platnumz, is a Tanzanian bongo flava recording artist, dancer, philanthropist and a businessman of Ha heritage. He is the founder and CEO of WCB Wasafi R ...

. Alade promoted the album by touring several African countries, including Ghana, Kenya and South Africa. The album's deluxe edition was released in November 2014; it contains French versions of songs originally performed in English. The cover art for the deluxe edition was unveiled on 21 October 2014. According to the music platform A Nation of Billions, ''King of Queens'' sold over 100,000 copies. Yemi Alade Mama Africa (album) listening party

Yemi Alade Mama Africa (album) listening party

Alade's second studio album '' Mama Africa'' was released on 25 March 2016. Alade disclosed its title was ''Mama Africa'' and said it would focus on the strengths and weaknesses of an African woman. The album combines elements of Afropop,

highlife Highlife is a music genre that started in present-day Ghana in the 19th century, during its Gold Coast (British colony), history as a colony of the British Empire and through its trade routes in coastal areas. It describes multiple local fusions ...

, R&B, coupé-décalé, hip-hop and pop. Alade said recording the album was a struggle because she was constantly traveling to different countries every day. She also said she recorded the album to "capture all of Africa in one CD". Alade told ''

The Fader ''The Fader'' (stylized as ''FADER'') is a magazine based in New York City that was launched in 1999 by Rob Stone and Jon Cohen. The magazine covers music, style and culture. It was the first print publication to be released on iTunes. It is o ...

'' magazine she collaborated with artists from West Africa, East Africa and South Africa. She enlisted GospelOnDeBeatz,

DJ Coublon Akwuba Charles Ugochukwu (born November 4, 1989), professionally known as DJ Coublon, is a Nigerian record producer and sound engineer. He is best known for producing hit songs with several prominent artists in the Nigerian music industry, includ ...

, Philkeyz, BeatsByEmzo, Masterkraft, Rotimi Keys and Mr. Chidoo to produce the album. ''Mama Africa'' features guest appearances from

P-Square P-Square is a Nigerian music duo consisting of the twin brothers Peter Okoye and Paul Okoye. They produced and released their albums through Square Records (now Square Root Entertainment) In December 2011, they signed a record deal with Akon's ...

, Sarkodie, Sauti Sol,

Flavour N'abania Chinedu Okoli (born 23 November 1983), better known by his stage name Flavour N'abania or simply Flavour, is a Nigerian singer. He began his musical career as a drummer for a local church. Flavour is popularly known across Africa and the world ...

, Rotimi Keys, DJ Arafat and

. It was made available for pre-order on

iTunes iTunes () is a software program that acts as a media player, media library, mobile device management utility, and the client app for the iTunes Store. Developed by Apple Inc., it is used to purchase, play, download, and organize digital mul ...

a week before its official release. Alade announced that proceeds from the sale of the album will go to the Feed a Child charity initiative. The album's deluxe edition was released on 6 April 2016, and features collaborations with South African musicians

Bucie Busisiwe Nolubabalo Nqwiliso (born March 10, 1987) is a South African R&B and house singer. Her 2014 single titled "Easy to Love" peaked at number 9 on EMA. Early life and Career Early life She was born in Kimberley and grew up in Khuma w ...

and AKA. ''Mama Africa'' charted in Germany, Malaysia and France.

2017–2019: ''Black Magic, Woman'' ''of Steel'', ''Universal Music and Endorsements''

Alade's third studio album ''

Black Magic Black magic, also known as dark magic, has traditionally referred to the use of supernatural powers or magic for evil and selfish purposes, specifically the seven magical arts prohibited by canon law, as expounded by Johannes Hartlieb in 145 ...

'' was released on 15 December, 2017. A follow-up to her 2017 EP ''Mama Afrique'', the album features guest appearances from

Falz Folarin Falana (born 27 October 1990), better known by his stage name Falz, is a Nigerian rapper, songwriter and actor who began his career while in secondary school after forming a group called The School Boys with his friend before his profe ...

and

Olamide Olamide Gbenga Adedeji (born 15 March 1989) is a Nigerian rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive. Widely regarded as one of the biggest and most influential artists in Africa, he has been instrumental to the launching of the careers ...

. ''Black Magic'' was made available for pre-order in November 2017. Prior to disclosing the album's title, Alade posted the acronym BM on social media and wanted her fans to guess its meaning. The album was produced by

, Vtek,

Sarz Osabuohien Osaretin (born 17 March 1989), better known by his stage name Sarz, is a Nigerian record producer and musician. Born in Benin City, Edo State, he is popularly known for the tag Sarz On The Beat/"Really", at the beginning or end of all ...

Krizbeatz Chris Alvin Sunday professionally known as Krizbeatz or KrizBeatz the drummer Boy, is a Nigerian record producer best known for producing Tekno his first single "Pana". Ranked 3rd on ''Pulse Nigeria''s 2016 list of "Top 5 Best Nigerian Music Pro ...

, Young D, Sess, Fliptyce, IAmBeat, Philkeyz, 2Kriss and Echo. It was supported by the previously released singles "Knack Am", "Single & Searching" and "Heart Robber". The album received generally negative reviews from music critics, who panned its lyrics and Alade's songwriting. Prior to that, On 9 May 2017, Alade was announced as a coach in the second edition of

The Voice Nigeria ''The Voice Nigeria'' is the Nigerian franchise of the TV series ''The Voice''. It is a singing competition that features music enthusiasts and professional performers. Since its first edition in 2016 in Nigeria, the show has become the biggest ...

to replace 2baba who was a former coach on the live show. She coached on

The Voice Nigeria (Season 2) ''The Voice Nigeria'' Season 2 is the second season of the Nigerian version of the TV series ''The Voice''. It was broadcast on Africa Magic from 18 June 2017 and was sponsored by Airtel and Coca-Cola. The winner earned a recording contract with U ...

alongside other Nigerian artists like

Waje Aituaje Iruobe, known professionally as Waje, which is the first letter from each word from the phrase "Words Aren't Just enough" is a Nigerian singer. She first gained recognition after being featured on the remake of P-Square’s "Omoge Mi". Wa ...

Timi Dakolo Timi Dakolo (born January 20, 1981) is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and music producer. He emerged winner of the inaugural season of '' Idols West Africa'' in 2007. Accompanying his victory was a recording contract with Sony BMG, in addition to ...

and

Patoranking Patrick Nnaemeka Okorie (born 27 May, 1990), better known by his stage name Patoranking, is a Nigerian reggae-dancehall singer and songwriter. Born and raised in Ijegun-Egba Satellite Town, Patoranking hails from Onicha, Ebonyi State. He starte ...

. On 1 December 2017, Alade was featured on a campaign "Make The Future" by

Shell Oil Shell plc is a British multinational oil and gas company headquartered in London, England. Shell is a public limited company with a primary listing on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and secondary listings on Euronext Amsterdam and the New Yor ...

Company in

. She was also starred in the company's music video "On Top of the World" which also featured

Pixie Lott Victoria Louise Lott (born 12 January 1991), better known by her stage name Pixie Lott, is an English singer and songwriter. Her debut album, '' Turn It Up'', released in September 2009, reached number six on the UK Albums Chart and sold ove ...

Luan Santana Luan Rafael Domingos Santana (; born 13 March 1991) is a Brazilian singer-songwriter. His first live album was a bestseller throughout 2010, selling over 100,000 copies. Early life Santana was born on March 13, 1991, in Campo Grande (MS). He fi ...

and

Monali Thakur Monali Thakur (born 3 November 1985) is an Indian singer and actress. She is the recipient of several awards including a National Film Award for the song "Moh Moh Ke Dhaage" from the film '' Dum Laga Ke Haisha'' (2015) and a Filmfare Award for ...

. On 29 April 2019, Alade garnered one million views on her "Oh My Gosh" remix featuring

Rick Ross William Leonard Roberts II (born January 28, 1976), known professionally as Rick Ross, is an American rapper. Prior to releasing his debut single, "Hustlin'", in 2006, Ross was the subject of a bidding war, receiving offers from Sean Combs, D ...

in one day. This makes the release from Alade, one of the fastest views gainers in the history of African music and the fastest release by an African female act. In July 2019, Alade became the first African female artist to reach one million subscribers on YouTube. Her song "Johnny" currently holds the YouTube record for the most watched African Female music video of all time. Alade was featured on "Don't Jealous Me", a track from

Beyoncé Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Beyoncé's boundary-pushing artistry and vocals have made her the most influential female musician of the 21st century, according to ...

's soundtrack album '' The Lion King: The Gift''. She appeared on the track alongside

Mr Eazi Oluwatosin Ajibade (born 19 July 1991), better known by his stage name Mr Eazi, is a Nigerian-born, Ghana-based singer. He is a pioneer of Banku music, a fusion of sound he describes as a mixture of Ghanaian highlife and Nigerian chord progressio ...

and Tekno. ''

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...

'' magazine revealed that Alade also recorded a verse for an earlier version of "My Power" in June. Yemi Alade in Sydney 2019

Alade released her fourth studio album '' Woman of Steel'' on 30 August 2019. Alade describes the album as a "buffet with different kinds of meals and drinks". She named the album ''Woman of Steel'' to reflect her tough veneer to command the same degree of respect as her male counterparts. Moreover, she derived the title after coming to the realization that she is her own superhero. Musically, ''Woman of Steel'' is an

Afrobeat Afrobeat is a Nigerian music genre that involves the combination of West African musical styles (such as traditional Yoruba music and highlife) and American funk, jazz, and soul influences, with a focus on chanted vocals, complex intersectin ...

record that incorporates elements of R&B and

. The album primarily explores topics such as love, socio-politics and poverty. Alade spent three years recording the album and said it would be released on 30 August 2019. The album's cover art features Alade wearing a headcap inspired by the

Nefertiti Bust The Nefertiti Bust is a painted stucco-coated limestone bust of Nefertiti, the Great Royal Wife of Egyptian pharaoh Akhenaten. The work is believed to have been crafted in by Thutmose because it was found in his workshop in Amarna, Egypt. It ...

artwork. Artists featured on ''Woman of Steel'' include

Duncan Mighty Duncan Wene Mighty Okechukwu (born 28 October 1983), simply known as Duncan Mighty, is a Nigerian musician, singer, and music producer from Obio-Akpor, Rivers State. Though his musical style demonstrates a high-level of genre versatility, it is ...

Angélique Kidjo Angélique Kpasseloko Hinto Hounsinou Kandjo Manta Zogbin Kidjo (; born July 14, 1960), known as Angélique Kidjo, is a Beninese singer-songwriter, actress, and activist who is noted for her diverse musical influences and creative music videos. ...

and

Funke Akindele Olufunke Ayotunde Akindele-Bello (born 24 August 1977) popularly known as Funke Akindele or Jenifa, is a Nigerian film actress, politician and producer.Funsho AkinwaleFunke Akindele gives first glimpse of her twins ''The Guardian'' Akindele sta ...

. In an interview with ''

The Star ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

'' newspaper, Alade sang some of the songs that made the album were recorded the previous year while others were recorded in August. In September 2019, Alade signed a multi-year licensing deal with Universal Music Africa (UMA) and UMG France. UMA will serve as the exclusive worldwide record partner for Alade while UMG France will serve as the international rollout partner for all of her releases under the label. Over the years, Alade received multiple ambassadorial contracts and partnerships from different brands both locally and internationally. She was endorsed by brands like Luc Belaire, Glo,

Maybelline Maybelline New York (formerly The Maybelline Company and Mabelline and Co.), trading as Maybelline ( ), is an American multinational cosmetics, skin care, fragrance, and personal care company, based in New York City. It was founded in Chicago ...

Shell Shell may refer to: Architecture and design * Shell (structure), a thin structure ** Concrete shell, a thin shell of concrete, usually with no interior columns or exterior buttresses ** Thin-shell structure Science Biology * Seashell, a hard o ...

and many more.

2020-Present: ''Black Is King'' and ''Empress''

On 16 January 2020, Alade was announced the new brand ambassador for

Hollandia Yoghurt Chi Limited, incorporated in 1980, is a fast-moving consumer goods company that provides consumer products in the dairy, beverages, and snacks sectors. The company's headquarter is in Lagos, Nigeria and it is primarily owned by The Coca-Cola Co ...

. Yemi Alade starred on

's ''

Black Is King ''Black Is King'' is a 2020 American musical film and visual album directed, written, and executive produced by American singer Beyoncé. It is a visual companion to the 2019 album '' The Lion King: The Gift'', curated by Beyoncé for ''The Lion ...

'' visual trailer and was announced to be featured in the movie released and premiered on

Disney+ The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment Entertainment is a form of activity that holds the attention and interest of an audience or gives pleasure and deligh ...

on 31 July 2020, then premiered for African countries on

DStv Digital Satellite Television, commonly abbreviated to DStv, is a Sub-Saharan African direct broadcast satellite service owned by MultiChoice and based in Randburg, South Africa. Launched on 6 October 1995, the service provides multiple audio, ...

Mnet M-Net (an abbreviation of Electronic Media Network) is a South African pay television channel established by Naspers in 1986. The channel broadcasts both local and international programming, including general entertainment, children's series, ...

on 1 August 2020. On 25 August 2020, Alade was announced to be among the coaches participating in ''The Voice Nigeria Season 3'' alongside

Darey Dare Art Alade (born February 9, 1982)– popularly known as Darey – is a Nigerian multi-platinum Afro R&B singer, songwriter, record producer, philanthropist, humanitarian and entrepreneur. He is also the son of the legendary African Jaz ...

and

, Alade is also one of the returning coaches from ''

'' alongside

On 17 November 2020, Alade announced the release of her fifth studio album titled ''Empress''. She released the tracklist and the cover art of the album and slated the release for 20 November 2020. The album contains 15 tracks and it features guest appearances and collaborations from the Grammy award-winning Estelle,

Vegedream Satchela Evrard Djedje (born 25 August 1992 in Orléans, France), better known by the artistic name Vegedream, is a French hip hop, R&B and urban pop singer (male) songwriter of Ivorian origin. He is signed to Universal Music France and is best ...

, Rudeboy, Mzansi Youth Choir and

Dadju Dadju Djuna Nsungula (; born 2 May 1991), better known by the mononym Dadju or at times Prince Dadj, is a French singer. He was signed to the label Wati B and in 2017 signed with Polydor Records of Universal Music Group. He was a member of the m ...

. She also enlisted Vtek, Phil Keyz, Egar Boi, Dr. Amir,

, IamBeatz, Youp Boelen, Jimmy Huru and Yung Felix as producers of the album. The guitarists she likewise enlisted are

Fiokee Ifiok Effanga, professionally known as Fiokee, is a Nigerian guitarist from Akwa Ibom. He is known for his trebley guitar solos infused with highlife steeped guitar lines. He was born on the 10th of January 1982. Fiokee is associated with acts s ...

and Max Meurs. The album received positive critical acclaim and has the most singles of all Alade's album. On 13 August 2021 Yemi Alade released her second EP ''Queendoncom'' with seven singles. It was an all solo album as Alade featured no guest appearances on the project.

Advocacy

Yemi Alade has engaged in

advocacy Advocacy is an Action (philosophy), activity by an individual or advocacy group, group that aims to influence decision making, decisions within political, economic, and social institutions. Advocacy includes activities and publications to infl ...

programs over the years of her music career. On 7 November 2018, Alade visited her secondary school Victory Grammar School, Ikeja which she also engaged in charity work. She helped the students who had difficulty in eyesight with equipment to help them see clearly. She engaged into this through her foundation (Helen and James Pathway Foundation). Yemi Alade performs at the Nairobi Summit 2019

Yemi Alade performs at the Nairobi Summit 2019

On 15 November 2019, Alade was featured on The Nairobi Summit on ICPD25 for the movement ''A Global Call to Action'' for handicapped children in Kenya. She performed alongside Chawki

2020: COVID-19 advocacy

In 2020, Alade joined the

United Nations Development Programme The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)french: Programme des Nations unies pour le développement, PNUD is a United Nations agency tasked with helping countries eliminate poverty and achieve sustainable economic growth and human dev ...

to speak for protection and aiding of poor people across Africa affected by the

corona virus pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identified ...

. She also was featured in the campaign Unite for the Future by Global Citizen In partnership with

Nelson Mandela Foundation Nelson may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Nelson'' (1918 film), a historical film directed by Maurice Elvey * ''Nelson'' (1926 film), a historical film directed by Walter Summers * ''Nelson'' (opera), an opera by Lennox Berkeley to a lib ...

and

MTV Base MTV Base was a British pay television music channel from Paramount Networks UK & Australia that focused primarily on hip hop, R&B, grime, garage, reggae, funk, soul and dance music. It was launched as part of MTV's digital boutique of music cha ...

, Alade joined One Campaign on a movement ''Stand Together against Covid-19'' She was featured on the campaign song "Stand Together" which collaborated with other African artistes like 2Baba,

Ahmed Soultan Ahmed Soultan (, ; born June 17, 1978) is a Moroccan singer artist, considered one of the leaders of the "Nayda" (new urban Moroccan scene). Afro-Arabian soul music of which head titles are to represent this universality the artist stands for : ...

Ben Pol Benard Michael Paul Mnyang'anga better known by his stage name Ben Pol, is a Tanzanian singer and songwriter from Dar es salaam, Tanzania. Music career His previous release “Ningefanyaje”, featured Kenyan artist Avril and ranked #1 on Sound ...

, Teni,

Amanda Black Amanda Benedicta Antony (born 24 July 1993), known professionally as Amanda Black, is a South African singer and songwriter. Born and raised in Gcuwa her career began in 1999 at the age of 6 singing in church choirs. Amanda was a contestant ...

, Stanley Enow, Gigi La Mayne, Prodigio and

Betty G Bruktawit Getahun ( amh, ብሩክታዊት ጌታሁን), better known by her stage name Betty G, is an Ethiopian singer and songwriter. She initiated her career with collaborating with various artists, most notably, hip hop musician, like ...

On 23 September 2020, Yemi Alade was appointed a Goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) by the organization's administrator

Achim Steiner Achim Steiner (born 17 May 1961) is a Brazilian-born environmentalist who currently serves as the administrator of the United Nations Development Programme and chairman of United Nations Sustainable Development Group. Before joining UNDP, he w ...

. She pledged with the UNDP that her focuses on

Sustainable Development Goals The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or Global Goals are a collection of 17 interlinked objectives designed to serve as a "shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future".United Nations (2017) R ...

would be on inequality, empowering women and creating awareness for the impact of global climate change. On 30 October 2020, Alade performed her singles "True Love" and "Africa" at the

TED TED may refer to: Economics and finance * TED spread between U.S. Treasuries and Eurodollar Education * ''Türk Eğitim Derneği'', the Turkish Education Association ** TED Ankara College Foundation Schools, Turkey ** Transvaal Education Depa ...

virtual countdown global launch. The countdown is TED's initiative to accelerate solutions to climate crisis around the world. Before her performance, Alade spoke about being part of the community that challenges one another to finding ways to reduce carbon emissions globally.

2021

Ever since Alade's appointment as a

ambassador, Her activism for the Sustainable Development Goals has increased as she has engaged in programmes and events that will help posit change to a better environment and

gender based violence Domestic violence (also known as domestic abuse or family violence) is violence or other abuse that occurs in a domestic setting, such as in a marriage or cohabitation. ''Domestic violence'' is often used as a synonym for ''intimate partner ...

Yemi Alade with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

On 17 October 2021, Alade performed at the Earthshot Prize ceremony which took place at the

Alexandra Palace Alexandra Palace is a Grade II listed entertainment and sports venue in London, situated between Wood Green and Muswell Hill in the London Borough of Haringey. It is built on the site of Tottenham Wood and the later Tottenham Wood Farm. Origi ...

, London at the invitation of the Royal family ( The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge). The event is hosted by

the Royal foundation The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales is a charity which supports the work of the Prince and Princess of Wales. Their projects revolve around conservation, the early years, mental health, and the emergency services. History ...

and aimed to distribute prizes and awards to five individuals each year who help the environment substantially. Alade performed alongside

Ed Sheeran Edward Christopher Sheeran (; born 17 February 1991) is an English singer-songwriter. Born in Halifax, West Yorkshire and raised in Framlingham, Suffolk, he began writing songs around the age of eleven. In early 2011, Sheeran independently r ...

Shawn Mendes Shawn Peter Raul Mendes (; born August 8, 1998) is a Canadian pop singer. He gained a following in 2013, when he posted song covers on the video sharing platform Vine. The following year, he caught the attention of artist manager Andrew Gert ...

, Cold Play and

KSI Olajide Olayinka Williams "JJ" Olatunji (born 19 June 1993), known professionally as KSI, is an English YouTuber and rapper. He is a co-founder and member of the British YouTube group known as the Sidemen. He is the CEO of Misfits Boxing and ...

. According to Alade, The Royal family personally selected her song "Rain" to be performed at the event. On 2 March 2022, Alade was announced as the global ambassador of a Pan-African campaign called "It's Up To Us" in partnership with the Africa Centre For Disease Control and the

MasterCard Foundation The Mastercard Foundation is an international non-governmental organization established by Mastercard in 2006. The organization, which is based in Toronto, Ontario, has supported work in 49 countries. In 2018, Mastercard Foundation shifted to a ...

to encourage Africans get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Legacy

Yemi Alade has been mentioned by many artists like

Tems Temilade Openiyi (born 11 June 1995), known professionally as Tems, is a Nigerian singer. She rose to prominence after she was featured on Wizkid's 2020 single "Essence," which reached the top ten of the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 after the releas ...

Ayra Starr Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe (born 14 June 2002), known professionally as Ayra Starr, is a Nigerian singer. She was born in Cotonou, Benin. Ayra Starr began a fashion career at the age of 16 with Quove Model Management before deciding to pursu ...

, Guchi and

Busiswa Busiswa Gqulu (born 8 November 1988), known mononymously as Busiswa or Busi, is a South African singer-songwriter and poet. Born in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, South Africa, she gained public recognition for her feature on DJ Zinhle's song, "My Na ...

as an inspiration, mentor and role model.

Tours

Yemi Alade has gone on five world tours following her studio albums: Yemi Alade performing for 50,000 fans in Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania

Yemi Alade performing for 50,000 fans in Benjamin Mkapa National Stadium, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania

*King of Queens Tour. *Mama Africa Tour. * Black Magic Tour. * Woman of Steel Tour. *Empress Tour.

Discography

Albums

* ''

'' (2015) * '' Mama Africa (The Diary of An African Woman)'' (2016) * ''

'' (2017) * '' Woman of Steel'' (2019) * ''

Empress An emperor (from la, imperator, via fro, empereor) is a monarch, and usually the sovereignty, sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife (empress consort), ...

'' (2020)

Extended plays

* ''Mama Afrique'' (2017) *'' Queendoncom'' (2021) * ''African Baddie'' (2022)

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

African Entertainment Awards USA (AEAUSA)

, - , 2018 African Entertainment Awards USA, 2018 , Herself , Female Artist of the Year , , - ,

, Herself , Best Female Artist , , - ,

, Herself , Entertainer of the year , , - ,

2020 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of events, COVID- ...

, Herself , Best Female Artist , , - ,

, "

Shekere The shekere (from Yoruba Ṣẹ̀kẹ̀rẹ̀) is a West African percussion instrument consisting of a dried gourd with beads or cowries woven into a net covering the gourd. The Shekere originated in a tribe in Nigeria called the Yoruba. The ins ...

" featuring

Angelique Kidjo Angelique or Angélique may refer to: * Angélique (given name), a French feminine name Arts and entertainment Music * Angélique (instrument), a string instrument of the lute family * ''Angélique'', a 1927 opéra bouffe by Jacques Ibert * ...

, Best Collaboration of the Year , , - ,

, Herself , Entertainer of the Year , , - ,

, Herself , Best Female artist (West Africa) , , - ,

2021 File:2021 collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: the James Webb Space Telescope was launched in 2021; Protesters in Yangon, Myanmar following the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état, coup d'état; A civil demonstration against the October–November 2021 ...

, Herself , Artist of the year , , - ,

, Herself , Best female artist , , - ,

, Herself , Best female artist (West Africa) ,

AFRIMA Awards (All Africa Music Awards)

, - , 2015 , "Kissing" , Best Female Artiste in Western Africa , , - , 2018 , "Herself" , Best Female Artiste , , - , 2019 , "Oh My Gosh" , Best Female Artiste in Western Africa ,

AFRIMMA Awards (African Muzik Magazine Awards)

, - , 2020 , Herself , Best Female Western Africa , , - , 2020 , Herself , Best Live Act , , - , 2019 , Herself , Artiste of the Year , , - , 2019 , Herself , Best Live Act , , - , 2018 , "Oh My Gosh" , Best Female Western Africa ,

MTV African Music Awards

, - , 2015 , Herself , Best Female , , - , 2016 , Herself , Best Female , , - , 2016 , Herself , Artiste of the Year ,

MTV Europe Music Award The MTV Europe Music Awards (originally named MTV European Music Awards, commonly abbreviated as MTV EMA) are awards presented by Paramount International Networks to honour artists and music in pop culture. It was originally conceived as an al ...
s

, - ,

2015 File:2015 Events Collage new.png, From top left, clockwise: Civil service in remembrance of November 2015 Paris attacks; Germanwings Flight 9525 was purposely crashed into the French Alps; the rubble of residences in Kathmandu following the Apri ...

, Herself , Best African Act ,

Soundcity MVP Awards The Soundcity MVP Awards Festival ("TheMVPs" or "MVP") is an event presented by Soundcity TV which awards plaques to musicians and performers across Africa. Since 2007, the winners are chosen by the viewers and fans by visiting #TheMVPs' website ...

, - , 2020 , Herself , Best Female , , - , 2020 , Herself , African Artiste of the Year , , - , 2020 , Herself , Digital Artiste of the Year , , - , 2019 , Herself , Best Female , , - , 2019 , Herself , Best Pop , , - , 2019 , Herself , Digital Artiste of the Year , , - , 2019 , Herself , African Artiste of the Year , , - , 2018 , Herself , Best Female , , - , 2018 , Herself , Best Pop , , - , 2018 , Herself , Digital Artiste of the Year , , - , 2018 , Herself , African Artiste of the Year , , - , 2017 , Herself , Best Female , , - , 2017 , Herself , Digital Artiste of the Year , , - , 2016 , Herself , Best Female , , - , 2016 , Herself , Best Pop , , - , 2016 , Herself , African Artiste of the Year ,

Independent Music Awards

, - , 2016 , Mama Africa , Best Album-World Beat ,

BET Awards The BET Awards is an American award show that was established in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network to celebrate black entertainers and other minorities in music, film, sports and philanthropy. The awards, which are presented annua ...

, - , 2015 , Herself , Best International Act: Africa , , - , 2016 , Herself , Best International Act ,

Nigeria Entertainment Awards The Nigerian Entertainment Awards were established in New York City in January 2006. The awards recognize the contributions of African entertainers with a special focus on Nigerians. Ceremonies * 2006 Nigeria Entertainment Awards * 2007 Nigeria ...

, - ,

2014 File:2014 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Stocking up supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the Western African Ebola virus epidemic; Citizens examining the ruins after the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping; Bundles of wat ...

, Herself , Female Artist of the Year , , - ,

, Herself , Female artiste of the year , , - ,

, Herself , Best Live Performer , , - ,

2016 File:2016 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Bombed-out buildings in Ankara following the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt; the impeachment trial of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff; Damaged houses during the 2016 Nagorno-Karabakh ...

, Herself , Best Live Performer ,

City People Entertainment Awards City People Entertainment Awards are an annual accolade presented by ''City People Magazine'' to honour Nigerian and Ghanaian entertainers. The first edition was held in Abeokuta, Ogun State on June 14, 2009. The event was hosted by Governor Gbe ...

, - , 2014 , Herself , Female Musician of the Year ,

MOBO Awards The MOBO Awards (Music of Black Origin, also known as the MOBOs) are an annual British music award presentation honouring achievements in " music of black origin", including hip hop, grime, UK Drill, R&B, soul, reggae, jazz, gospel, and Af ...

, - , 2014 , Herself , Best African Act ,

YEM Awards

, - , 2012 , Herself , Female Artiste of the Year ,

ELOY Awards ELOY (Exquisite Lady of the Year) Awards is an award for women excelling in their field of work. It was established by Tewa Onasanya in 2009. During the ELOY awards which was held in Lagos Continental Hotel in 2018, the convener Tewa Onasanya r ...

, - , 2013 , Herself , Most Promising Female ,

WatsUp TV Africa Music Video Awards WatsUp TV Africa Music Video Awards (commonly abbreviated as a WAMVA) is an award presented by the TV channel WatsUp TV to honor the best in the African music videos scene. The award was launched in Accra, Ghana in September 2016 coupled with th ...

!Ref , - , rowspan="7", 2016 , rowspan="5", Want You , African Video of the Year , , , - , Best African Female Video , , , - , Best West African Video , , , - , Best Afro Pop Video , , , - , Best African Dance Video , , , - , rowspan="3", Ferrari , Best African Traditional Video , , , -

The Headies The Headies (originally called the Hip Hop World Awards) is a music awards show established in 2006 by the ''Hip Hop World Magazine'' of Nigeria to recognize outstanding achievements in the Nigerian music industry. The annual ceremony features pe ...

, - ,

, rowspan="3", Herself , rowspan="2", Best Performer , , - ,

, , - , 2017 , Best Performer , , - ,

, Herself , Artiste of the Year , , - ,

, Herself , Hip Hop World Revelation of the Year , , - ,

, "Duro Timi" , Best Vocal Performance (Female) , , - ,

, Herself , Artiste of the Year , , - ,

, ''

'' , Album of the Year , , - ,

, ''

'' , Best R&B/Pop Album ,

NET Honours Net or net may refer to: Mathematics and physics * Net (mathematics), a filter-like topological generalization of a sequence * Net, a linear system of divisors of dimension 2 * Net (polyhedron), an arrangement of polygons that can be folded up ...

, - , 2021 , Herself , Most Popular Musician ,

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Alade, Yemi Nigerian women pop singers University of Lagos alumni Musicians from Abia State Musicians from Ondo State 1989 births Living people Nigerian rhythm and blues singers Yoruba women musicians Igbo musicians English-language singers from Nigeria Yoruba-language singers 21st-century Nigerian women singers Nigerian women singer-songwriters The Headies winners Universal Music Group artists BBC 100 Women Swahili-language singers Portuguese-language singers United Nations Development Programme officials

Early life

Music career

2014–2016: ''King of Queens'' and ''Mama Africa''

2017–2019: ''Black Magic, Woman'' ''of Steel'', ''Universal Music and Endorsements''

2020-Present: ''Black Is King'' and ''Empress''

Advocacy

2020: COVID-19 advocacy

2021

Legacy

Tours

Discography

Albums

Extended plays

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

African Entertainment Awards USA (AEAUSA)

AFRIMA Awards (All Africa Music Awards)

AFRIMMA Awards (African Muzik Magazine Awards)

MTV African Music Awards

MTV Europe Music Award The MTV Europe Music Awards (originally named MTV European Music Awards, commonly abbreviated as MTV EMA) are awards presented by Paramount International Networks to honour artists and music in pop culture. It was originally conceived as an al ...s

Soundcity MVP Awards The Soundcity MVP Awards Festival ("TheMVPs" or "MVP") is an event presented by Soundcity TV which awards plaques to musicians and performers across Africa. Since 2007, the winners are chosen by the viewers and fans by visiting #TheMVPs' website ...

Independent Music Awards

BET Awards The BET Awards is an American award show that was established in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network to celebrate black entertainers and other minorities in music, film, sports and philanthropy. The awards, which are presented annua ...

Nigeria Entertainment Awards The Nigerian Entertainment Awards were established in New York City in January 2006. The awards recognize the contributions of African entertainers with a special focus on Nigerians. Ceremonies * 2006 Nigeria Entertainment Awards * 2007 Nigeria ...

City People Entertainment Awards City People Entertainment Awards are an annual accolade presented by ''City People Magazine'' to honour Nigerian and Ghanaian entertainers. The first edition was held in Abeokuta, Ogun State on June 14, 2009. The event was hosted by Governor Gbe ...

MOBO Awards The MOBO Awards (Music of Black Origin, also known as the MOBOs) are an annual British music award presentation honouring achievements in " music of black origin", including hip hop, grime, UK Drill, R&B, soul, reggae, jazz, gospel, and Af ...

YEM Awards

ELOY Awards ELOY (Exquisite Lady of the Year) Awards is an award for women excelling in their field of work. It was established by Tewa Onasanya in 2009. During the ELOY awards which was held in Lagos Continental Hotel in 2018, the convener Tewa Onasanya r ...

WatsUp TV Africa Music Video Awards WatsUp TV Africa Music Video Awards (commonly abbreviated as a WAMVA) is an award presented by the TV channel WatsUp TV to honor the best in the African music videos scene. The award was launched in Accra, Ghana in September 2016 coupled with th ...

The Headies The Headies (originally called the Hip Hop World Awards) is a music awards show established in 2006 by the ''Hip Hop World Magazine'' of Nigeria to recognize outstanding achievements in the Nigerian music industry. The annual ceremony features pe ...

NET Honours Net or net may refer to: Mathematics and physics * Net (mathematics), a filter-like topological generalization of a sequence * Net, a linear system of divisors of dimension 2 * Net (polyhedron), an arrangement of polygons that can be folded up ...

See also

References

External links

MTV Europe Music Award The MTV Europe Music Awards (originally named MTV European Music Awards, commonly abbreviated as MTV EMA) are awards presented by Paramount International Networks to honour artists and music in pop culture. It was originally conceived as an al ...
s