Award-winning artist Yemi Alade has revisited some of the painful rejections she faced in the early days of her career, saying she was once labeled “unbrandable” because of her unconventional African style.
The singer recalled performing at over 300 free shows before her breakout single Johnny changed her life. But during that period, she faced criticism from industry executives who didn’t understand her style.
“Someone once told my management that I wasn’t branded,” Yemi revealed In her chat with Chude Jideonwo.
“But the same person would call me to perform for free at their shows. I was already unique the fact that you did not understand me doesn’t mean that I’m not brandable.”
The singer recalled a moment that left her feeling humiliated after hearing gossip about her appearance.
“A friend told me people said, ‘She cannot dress, she just looks anyhow,’ and even started combing my hair while talking to me,” she said. “I felt embarrassed and alarmed. But it also pushed me to define who I was.”
Yemi said the rejection she faced didn’t just come from strangers, it sometimes came from people she trusted.
“I was rejected a lot. There were a lot of ‘no’s. I could feel people smiling in my face, but deep down, they couldn’t stand my existence,” she said.
“Not because I was superior, but because they thought I was inferior.”
Today, she calls herself “a product of grace.”
qqqqq“God lifted me from my small cubicle and took me over the heads of many CEOs and short callers in the industry. I’ve been touring the world for years. He just did that for me,” she said with gratitude.
For Yemi, rejection became redirection, and her authenticity, once dismissed, became the very foundation of her global success.
