Nigerian singer Yemi Alade has spoken candidly about the struggles she faced as a young artiste, revealing that sexual harassment was one of the biggest obstacles in the early years of her career.
The award-winning performer, best known for the hit track Johnny, recounted her experiences on a recent episode of the Swift Conversations podcast. She said that while she had talent, determination, and faith, entering the industry as a teenager exposed her to predatory behaviour from some industry players.
“They didn’t want my talent, they wanted something else”
Alade explained that she believed her talent would be enough to build a career, especially since she lacked financial backing. But as she began attending meetings, studio sessions, and industry events, she quickly discovered that many of the doors she knocked on came with inappropriate conditions.
“In those beginning days, all I thought I needed was my talent,” she said. “There were doors I needed to walk up to, and when I walked up to the doors, they didn’t want my talent, they wanted something else.”
She described several uncomfortable encounters, including moments when senior executives would touch her inappropriately during meetings.
“From business meetings to studio sessions to even winning certain awards, you meet the managing director or another executive and they’re trying to rub your thighs under the table,” she recalled. “I was just a teen… I couldn’t speak because I was in shock.”
Choosing Persistence Over Fear
The harassment became so frequent that Alade began questioning whether she should remain in the industry. Despite the challenges, she said something within her pushed her to stay focused on her craft.
“I had to speak to myself and decide if music was what I wanted to do because the sexual harassment was becoming too rampant,” she said. “But something in me told me to keep pushing my talent. I still showed up. If a door was open, I walked in. If it was shut in my face, I walked away.”
Breaking Barriers Instead of Knocking on Doors
Reflecting on her journey, Alade said she eventually succeeded when she stopped relying solely on traditional gatekeepers and began creating her own opportunities.
She said her breakthrough came after she realised she “needed to stop walking through the doors and start breaking down the walls,” a mindset that ultimately propelled her into one of Africa’s most celebrated music careers.
Her testimony adds to growing conversations about harassment in the creative sector and the need for safer spaces for young female artistes navigating the industry.
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