Yemi Alade named Spotify’s EQUAL artist for September 2024

The announcement follows the arrival of her sixth album, Rebel Queen, in July.

Since its launch in April 2021, Spotify’s year-round EQUAL initiative has uplifted female artists by showcasing them globally through curated playlists, specialised content hubs, and collaborative efforts.

Yemi Alade’s inclusion adds her to the growing list of African artists who have benefited from EQUAL Africa, alongside Ayra Starr, Aṣa, Gyakie, Somi, DBN Gogo and Soraia Ramos.

“Spotify’s EQUAL Africa programme is dedicated to empowering female voices in Africa, spotlighting artists who continue to push boundaries with their artistry,” Spotify’s head of music for sub-Saharan Africa, Phiona Okumu, said. “Yemi Alade exemplifies the calibre of talent the programme aims to support. Spotify is proud to be associated with Yemi Alade and will continue to use the EQUAL Africa programme to provide support for women in music, amplifying their voices and helping to showcase their incredible talents to a global audience.”

With a career spanning over a decade, Yemi Alade has established herself as a prominent pop act in the Nigerian music industry. Her music blends highlife pop, R&B and Afrobeats, inspired by a bit of jazz or blues. She has collaborated with global superstars such as Beyoncé, Angélique Kidjo and Awilo Longomba, among others.

“I’ve always loved music, but I realised that I always knew that my voice had an effect on people and I loved that effect because it meant that I could connect with them even without touching them, without speaking directly to them,” Yemi Alade, a multiple award-winner and UNDP Goodwill ambassador, said. “I felt a vibration that I enjoyed. It became a career after I won a talent show in 2010, and since then, my life has been on the road chasing music and making music.”