Yemi Eberechi Alade (born March 13, 1989) is a multi award-winning Nigerian Afropop singer, songwriter and entrepreneur. Often referred to as “Mama Africa” for her pan African appeal and signature sound that blends Afrobeats, R&B and Highlife, she is one of the continent’s most recognized and successful female artists.

Early Life and Breakthrough
Born in Abia State, Nigeria, to a Yoruba father and an Igbo mother, Alade grew up in a multi tribal household. This diverse upbringing influenced her ability to seamlessly weave English, Yoruba, Igbo, French and Swahili into her music. She went on to earn a degree in Geography from the University of Lagos.

Her musical career officially kicked off after she won the Peak Talent Show in 2009. However, her massive international breakthrough came in 2013 with the release of the smash hit “Johnny”. The track became a global anthem and made her the first African female artist to reach 100 million views on YouTube.

Career Highlights
Discography: She has released several critically acclaimed albums, including “King of Queens” (2014), “Mama Africa” (2016), “Black Magic” (2017), “Woman of Steel” (2019) and “Rebel Queen” (2024).

Global Recognition: Alade was featured as one of the few African artists on Beyoncé’s 2019 album, “The Lion King: The Gift”. In late 2024, she earned a milestone solo Grammy nomination for Best African Music Performance for her empowering track “Tomorrow”.

Record Breaker: She was the first African female artist to hit one million subscribers on YouTube, cementing her massive digital footprint.

Beyond Music: In 2020, she was appointed a UNDP Goodwill Ambassador. Continuing her evolution as an artist and businesswoman, she expanded her empire in 2025 by launching her own cosmetics brand, Yem Beauty.