CARY, North Carolina — Yemi Alade is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, actress and activist with a strong national and international influence. She is well-known in Nigeria as one of the most prominent Afropop female artists. Alade became globally recognized after collaborating with Beyoncé for “Black Is King,” a visual album of valuable lessons from “The Lion King” for the younger African and African American generation. Currently, she has more than one million monthly listeners on Spotify. Alade is not only a celebrated figure in the Nigerian music industry; she was also appointed a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Goodwill Ambassador on September 23, 2020. Through this role, she champions causes such as gender equality, health care and the fight against poverty in Nigeria.
Poverty in Nigeria
Poverty in Nigeria is persistent, affecting millions of Nigerians daily. The country has the second-largest population living in poverty after India, with approximately 87 million Nigerians living below the poverty line, according to the World Bank.
This issue is particularly acute in rural areas, where multidimensional poverty is more pronounced, with a staggering 72% poverty rate compared to 42% in urban centers. Although migration from rural to urban communities is rising, urban expansion can exacerbate poverty if adequate infrastructure and services are lacking.
Addressing poverty in rural and urban Nigeria remains a significant challenge. It demands coordinated efforts from the government, civil society and international partners to prevent more Nigerians from falling into poverty.
Yemi Alade’s Work
As a UNDP ambassador and singer, Alade uses her platform to promote awareness about critical issues like poverty in Nigeria. Her motivation stems from her early childhood when she constantly listened to rap artists like Busta Rhymes, who spoke openly about the African American experience. Through her music, Alade highlights the harsh realities of poverty in Nigeria, offering the world a vivid picture of life under such conditions.
“Over the years, a lot of international media, whenever they focus on Africa, they key-in on poverty,” Alade said. “They key-in on buildings that are not exactly habitable, but people are actually living there. They key-in on a very low level of livelihood when it comes to Africa. That has been the norm for many years that it has made even the Africans in diaspora, who have never been to Africa, assume that Africa is nothing but dirt. But here is Afrobeats saving the day, giving a much clearer picture to the reality of Africa.”
Additionally, she has participated in multiple charity events to support underprivileged Nigerians and enhance access to education and health care. During poverty campaigns, she performs storytelling songs to raise funds for those in need and encourage listeners to remain hopeful while continuing their fight for poverty alleviation in Nigeria.
Raising Awareness
Through her role as a UNDP ambassador and her music, Alade brings attention to the harsh realities of life in Nigeria, weaving themes of struggle and resilience into her lyrics. Her powerful social media presence and artistic talents amplify her influence over Nigerians.
One of her key contributions is rallying support for the Sustainable Development Goals, which focus on alleviating poverty in Nigeria. Alade advocates for collective action and policy reforms, motivating younger generations to engage in social change. Ultimately, she aims to uplift impoverished communities across Nigeria by leveraging her popularity.
– Makayla Johnson
Makayla is based in Cary, NC, USA and focuses on Good News and Celebs for The Borgen Project.
Photo: OkayAfrica