Yemi Alade reveals sexual harassment as teenage artist

Yemi Alade recounts being sexually harassed by music executives as a teenager, highlighting the challenges young artists face in the industry.

Nigerian singer and songwriter Yemi Eberechi Alade, widely known as Yemi Alade, has disclosed that she experienced sexual harassment from music executives as a teenager.

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Speaking on the Swift Conversations podcast, Alade recounted the struggles she faced as a young artist with limited financial resources, relying solely on her talent and determination to succeed.

Alade described the harassment as occurring during business meetings and studio sessions, often involving older men making inappropriate advances.

“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,” she stated.

Reflecting on the experience, Alade said it left her questioning whether to continue pursuing music. “I had to speak to myself and decide 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 a door was left open for me, I would walk in.

If it was shut in my face, I would walk away,” she added.

Alade explained that her early days in the music industry were marked by hard work and perseverance.

“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.

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,” she said.

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The singer’s revelations shine a light on the challenges faced by young and emerging artists in the Nigerian music industry, emphasising the need for accountability and safer work environments.