Nigerian singer Yemi Alade has revealed that she experienced sexual harassment as a teenager from music executives while trying to start her career.
Speaking on the Swift Conversations podcast, Yemi said she entered the industry with nothing but talent and determination.
“In the beginning, all I had was my talent. I didn’t have money, just a promise I made to myself and a belief that God would help me,” she said.
She explained that some doors she tried to enter as a young artist did not open because people expected something other than her talent.
Yemi said many of the incidents happened during business meetings and studio sessions with older men.
“There were times when I would be in a meeting and an executive would try to touch me inappropriately. I was just a teenager. I couldn’t even speak because I was in shock,” she said.
She added that the repeated harassment made her question whether she still wanted to pursue music, but she eventually decided to keep going.
“If a door was open, I walked in. If it was shut in my face, I walked away,” she said.
