Nigerian Afrobeats singer and songwriter Yemi Eberechi Alade, globally recognised as Yemi Alade, has shared painful accounts of sexual harassment.

She revealed these struggles from her time as an upcoming musician. The star stated that older men and music executives were responsible for the harassment.

Alade shared her personal account during an episode of the Swift Conversations podcast. The revelations provide a stark look at the hidden challenges she faced as a young female artist trying to navigate the music industry.

Starting with Just Talent

During her early career days, Alade was not financially buoyant. She did not have a bank account full of money to sponsor herself. All she possessed was her talent and a strong zeal.

“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 talent, 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 painfully narrated.

Alade was determined to succeed, having made a promise to herself and believing in a promise she felt God made to her. She consistently tried to show up for opportunities. She was often told she needed to work harder, so she did.

ALSO READ: Inspirational Stories Of 5 Kenyan Celebrities Who Survived Sexual Assault

However, this hard work was not enough. When she walked up to the doors seeking opportunities, those executives did not want her talent.

“I was told that I needed to work harder, and so I worked harder, and it wasn’t enough. There were doors I needed to walk up to, and when I walked up to the doors. They didn’t want my talent; they wanted something else.”

Harassment Became ‘Too Rampant’

Alade revealed that these inappropriate acts often occurred during business engagements. The harassment happened multiple times.

These incidents took place during studio sessions and business meetings. It even happened after winning certain awards.

She recounted instances where she met with managing directors or other executives. These men would attempt to rub her thighs under the table. Alade was just a teenager at the time this was happening.

She expressed immense shock when these executives touched her. She found it difficult to speak up immediately.

“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 grandpa is rubbing my legs, and I can’t speak because I’m in shock.”

A Turning Point

The singer remembered being confused, questioning why this was happening during professional meetings.

She had to consider whether music was truly what she wanted to pursue. This contemplation arose because the sexual harassment was becoming too rampant.

Despite the challenges, a feeling inside told her to keep pushing her talent. Her immediate survival strategy was simple: if a door was left open, she walked in. If a door was shut in her face, she simply walked away.

The singer later achieved success by making a crucial decision. She realised she needed to take control of her own destiny.

She decided she had to stop walking through the doors offered to her. Instead, she chose to “break down the walls” that stood in her path.