Yemi Alade is currently regarded as Africa ’s pop queen, with two
albums to her name, a string of international releases, and performances across
the continent.
She recently released
her sophomore album “Mama Africa”,
which contains the songs ‘Ferarri’, and ‘Nagode’, with the deluxe edition already out.
Alade visited Pulse Nigeria and spoke about her new
album, her career, and also broader subjects regarding the concept of
competition among female artistes in the Nigerian music industry, and more.
Below are excerpts from
the interview.
1. On her switch in style after ‘Johnny’:
Yes I agree that there
was a switch from before ‘Johnny’ to that point in time after I released
‘Johnny’, But it wasn’t intentional…We didn’t see it coming, we didn’t plan it.
It all started from the hairstyle, then it transcened into the attire, and it
manifested itself in my delivery and attitude on-screen.
2. On the concept of Nigeria having a throne for female
musicians:
There are several
thrones. If there are thrones for guys, then there are thrones for females. But
sincerely, there is only a galaxy of stars. There’s really no throne… The
throne belongs to whoever is your favorite at that time.
3. On her music lacking diversity:
People have the right to
their opinions, and I definitely know that I’m in an industry where everybody
wants their opinion to be heard. The least I can do is sometimes listen, and
sometimes do me. If I had been listening all the time, I don’t think I would
even get half way to where I am now. I probably would have quit music a long
time ago. Because you even have lizards that have opinions too. If you ask the
Lizard next door, the lizard would want to talk. You can’t understand their
language, but they want to talk. So opinions are opinions, that’s all.
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4. On Making ‘Grammy’ Music:
A lot of people ask me
“When are we going to go to the Grammys?...”Will you start making Grammy
music?”
I ask them, ‘Did Justin
Bieber have to change his sound to African music for you people to put it on
your playlist? Mba (no). The Miriam Makeba and Angelique Kidjo that we are all
referring to, if we listen to their music, it’s just about very African. It’s
because they are African, that’s why they are special where they are outside
the country…
You cannot lose yourself
trying to find what you don’t have. I’m definitely the kind of person that
doesn’t like to be in the box, so I don’t say no to any genre of music. I’m
just going to go with the flow, and definitely be God’s grace we just will get
the Grammy. But I’m trying to be an example of any other person by myself.
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