“I Was Just a Teen, But They Harassed Me” – Yemi Alade on Early Struggles

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Nigerian singer Yemi Alade has opened up about the harrowing challenges she faced as a young female artist trying to break into the music industry. 

The Johnny hitmaker revealed that sexual harassment by music executives was one of the most significant obstacles she confronted in her early career.

Speaking on the Swift Conversations podcast, Alade recounted how, as a teenager, she often encountered executives who made inappropriate advances during business meetings and studio sessions. 

“In those beginning days, all I thought I needed was just my talent because that’s what I have. I didn’t have a bank account full of money I could use to sponsor myself,” she said.

Alade explained that her drive and determination kept her going, even when her talent alone was not enough to secure opportunities. 

“I just had a talent and a zeal, and a promise that I made to myself and a promise I believed God made to me. So, I always tried to show up. I was told that I needed to work harder and so I worked harder, and it wasn’t enough,” she said.

She revealed that some executives attempted to exploit her, saying, “Many times from business meetings to studio sessions to even winning certain awards, you meet maybe the managing director or any other executive and they are trying to rub your thighs under the table. And I was just a teen. My grand pa is rubbing my legs and I can’t speak because I’m in shock.”

Despite the harassment, Alade said she made a conscious decision to stay focused on her talent and career goals. 

“I had to speak to myself and decided if music was what I wanted to do because the sexual harassment was becoming too rampant. But something in me told me to keep pushing my talent. So, I still showed up. If door was left open for me, I would walk in. If it was shut in my face, I would walk away,” she explained.

Yemi Alade credited her eventual success to resilience and determination. She realised that, instead of waiting for opportunities to come, she needed to create her own path. 

“I needed to stop walking through the doors and start breaking down the walls,” she said, underscoring the mindset that helped her overcome challenges and thrive in a male-dominated industry.

Her story sheds light on the difficulties young female artists face in the Nigerian music scene, where talent is often overshadowed by unethical behavior and exploitation. 

Yemi Alade’s candid reflections serve as both a warning and an inspiration, showing the importance of resilience, self-belief, and courage in pursuing one’s dreams.

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