Nigerian singer Yemi Alade has reflected on the difficult experiences she faced as a young and rising artiste, revealing that sexual harassment was one of the biggest obstacles in her early career.
The “Johnny” hitmaker shared the emotional account during an episode of the Swift Conversations podcast, explaining that several music executives made inappropriate advances toward her during meetings and studio sessions when she was still a teenager.
Alade noted that at the start of her journey, all she had was raw talent and determination, not financial resources or industry connections. Despite working tirelessly, she said many of the industry gatekeepers she encountered were more interested in exploiting her than supporting her ambitions.
“There were many doors I tried to walk through because I believed my talent was enough,” she said. “But some of the people behind those doors didn’t want my music — they wanted something else.”
She recounted uncomfortable incidents where senior industry figures attempted to touch her during professional meetings, leaving her shocked and speechless.
“From business meetings to studio sessions, even at events, some executives would start rubbing my thighs under the table. I was just a teenager. I couldn’t understand why it was happening,” she said.
The award-winning singer admitted that the repeated harassment made her question whether she wanted to continue pursuing a music career. However, she ultimately chose resilience over fear, trusting her talent and commitment to guide her path.
She said her breakthrough came when she stopped waiting for opportunities and began creating her own.
“I realised I needed to stop walking through the doors they kept closing and start breaking down the walls,” Alade said.
