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Yemi Alade (born March 13, 1989), is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, actress, and activist. Her music combines Afropop, highlife, dancehall, pop, and R&B and has had an impact in various African countries. She can sing in English, Igbo, Pidgin, Yoruba, French, Swahili, and Portuguese.
Alade won the Peak Talent Show in 2009, following which she signed with Effyzzie Music Group and scored a hit with her tune “Johnny” in 2014. Following the release of her albums King of Queens and Mama Africa, Alade went on successive global tours. In 2016, she debuted at number four on Billboard’s Next Big Sound chart.
She won the MTV African Music Awards for Best Female in 2015 and 2016, and was nominated for Artiste of the Year in 2015, becoming the first female to win Best Female twice in a row and be nominated for Artiste of the Year.
Alade became the first African girl to be nominated for the MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) in 2015, and she was nominated for Best International Act: Africa by BET in both 2015 and 2016.
Alade is also known for her innovative and captivating stage performances, couture, and music videos. She has received The Headies Award for Best Performer twice, in 2018 and 2019. The slot was introduced during The Headies 2018, and she was the first artist to win it.
Alade is also the second Nigerian and Afrobeats artist, as well as the first female, to reach 100 million views for a single YouTube video, following Davido. Alade’s main track from her sixth studio album Rebel Queen, “Tomorrow,” won her first Grammy nomination at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards for Best African Music Performance.
Yemi Alade Biography
Yemi Eberechi Alade was reared in a multi-ethnic Nigerian home. Her father, James Alade, was a commissioner of police from Ondo State, in Nigeria’s southwestern region, and her mother, Helen Uzoma, is from Abia State, in Nigeria’s southeastern region.
Alade identifies with her parents’ Igbo and Yoruba ethnicities. Alade attended secondary education at Victory Grammar School in Ikeja and the University of Lagos (both in Lagos State, Nigeria).
During her academic study, Alade competed in a TV talent contest called the Peak Talent contest and won. That was Alade’s first appearance on television, and she became popular. She later signed with Effyzzie Music Group.
Career
Alade’s debut studio album, King of Queens, was released on October 2, 2014. Alade worked with producers including Selebobo, Sizzle Pro, Shady Bizniz, Philkeyz, Young D, GospelOnDeBeatz, DIL, OJB JezreMr., Mr. Chidoo, Fliptyce, EL Mcee, and Beat Nation. The singles “Johnny”, “Tangerine”, and “Kissing” preceded the album.
It includes cameo appearances and skits by Bovi, R2Bees, Phyno, Chidinma, DIL, Selebobo, and Diamond Platnumz. Alade promoted the album by visiting many African nations, including Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa.
The album’s deluxe edition was published in November 2014, and it includes French versions of tracks previously performed in English.
The cover art for the deluxe edition was released on October 21, 2014. According to the music portal A Nation of Billions, King of Queens has sold over 100,000 copies. The album received nominations for Album of the Year at both the 2015 Nigerian Entertainment Awards and the 2015 Headies Awards.
Alade, Magic System, and Mohamed Ramadan appeared on the soundtrack “Akwaba” on October 13, 2023, which was to be used as the official 2023 AFCON theme song. In the local Ivorian language of Baoulé, the word “Akwaba” means “Welcome”.
Later in the year, Alade released Mamapiano, an Amapiano-infused extended play. A four-track EP that contains Ajebo Hustlers on one of the tracks.
Yemi Alade and other featured artists performed the song “Akwaba” at the 2023 African Cup of Nations opening ceremony on January 14, 2024, at the Stade Olympique Alessane Ouattara in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Alade earned mostly good feedback and accolades for her great performance at the opening ceremony. On November 8, 2024, Alade was named as a nominee for the 67th Annual Grammy Awards. She received this nomination for “Tomorrow” in the category of Best African Music Performance.
In April 2025, it was revealed that she sang the opening song, “You Are,” for the animated series Iyanu, which she aimed to keep authentic to “Nigerian culture and Yoruba mythology,” with her song described as a “soaring anthem of identity” that echoed the “power of African storytelling through music.”
Discography
- King of Queens (2014)
- Mama Africa (2016)
- Black Magic (2017)
- Woman of Steel (2019)
- Empress (2020)
- Rebel Queen (2024)
- Mama Afrique (2017)
- Queendoncom (2021)
- African Baddie (2022)
- Mamapiano (2023)
Filmography
- Home
- Black Is King
- Omo Ghetto: The Saga Mogambo
- The Voice Nigeria
Is Yemi Alade Married?
Yemi Alade is not married as of 2025, and she has not publicly identified her boyfriend. She has kept her personal life quiet, despite speculations regarding her sexual encounters.
Yemi Alade Net Worth
Yemi Alade’s net worth is estimated at $6 million. Her main sources of income are music and touring. Alade is currently regarded as Africa’s fifth richest female musician.
This ranking is based on her earnings from music and streaming. Furthermore, her net worth has lately climbed by 20% as a result of the Grammy excitement.
Social Media
Instagram: @yemialade