Yemi Alade, the beloved Afrobeat artist often referred to as the Mama of Africa, has opened up about why she doesn’t win awards as frequently as some might expect.
I don’t win awards because I reject sexual advances from men — Yemi Alade
She revealed that when she first entered the music scene, many men approached her with inappropriate propositions. However, she stood firm in her principles and refused to give in to such advances. Unfortunately, this decision may have had a negative impact on her chances of winning awards in Nigeria.
Yemi Alade shared that there have been instances where she wasn’t even nominated for certain award categories, and she believes this is largely due to the influence of men in the industry. She recounted a time when she felt pressured to compromise her values to gain access to certain opportunities, deals, and even awards.
Refusing to engage in activities for personal gain, particularly of a sexual nature, resulted in doors closing for her in many aspects of her career. Despite being one of the most viewed and subscribed Nigerian female artists on YouTube, she still feels overlooked by award shows.
In essence, Yemi Alade’s dedication to maintaining her integrity and principles has sometimes meant missing out on recognition and opportunities in the industry.
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