Yemi Alade performance at L’Olympia
Regarded as one of Nigeria’s biggest exports, the music industry continues to blaze the trail and raise the bar at home and abroad. From afrobeat legend, late Fela Anikulapo to Grammy award winners, BurnaBoy and Wizkid and a host of other iconic international superstars like Davido, Kizz Daniel, Tuface Idibia, PSquare and many others, it’s a known fact that Nigerian music stars can hold their own on any global stage as they have achieved wide acclaim for their creativity and excellence.
One female artiste who has contributed tremendously to this global renown for Nigerian music while commanding the same degree of respect as her male counterparts is an award-winning singer and dancer, Yemi Alade. Popularly called ‘Mama Africa’ because of her pro-Africanlyrics, music, costumes and energetic stage performances, Yemi Alade has left no one in doubt that her rightful place is at the top of global music acclaim given her commitment to her stagecraft. This stagecraft was on showcase recently and to global applause. Check out her array of awards and endorsements, and you’ll get a sneak peek of the enormous social and professional influence this wonder-girl from Nigeria wields everywhere she goes.
The date was Sunday, 6th November 2022, a golden opportunity for fans of the King of Queens in France to taste the magic of Mama Africa at the Yemi Alade Live in Concert event, which was held at the 2,000 seater L’Olympia, Boulevard des Capucines, Paris. Right from the doors, the eager fans surged forward to get vantage seats before a thrilling night no fan would forget in a jiffy. You could feel fans’ expectations in the charged atmosphere. It was electrifying. Preparations for the concert started weeks earlier with rehearsal runs by Yemi Alade and her band with choreographers, stage coordinators and event organizers to pull off a great show. As expected on D-day, everything sailed smoothly, from controlling the teeming fans who showed up to start on time.
UK-based Nigerian hypeman and MC Adesope Olajide, Shopsydoo, set the ball rolling, getting everyone pumped up in anticipation of an evening with Yemi Alade that will be much talked about for months to come. When Yemi Alade eventually stepped on stage, her teeming fans, who had packed out the Olympia, needed nothing more to help them brave the cold weather as they jumped to their feet to groove with her.
They sang along from hit track to hit track, and many of them couldn’t help but mimic Yemi Alade’s energetic dance steps to show how happy they were to see her live in concert. Not a stranger to events of these kinds, Yemi and her team came prepared as they worked the fans into a frenzy at different intervals in the show.
The high point of the evening was when she launched into her hit track, Johnny. It seemed like fans had been waiting for the song all night long, and you could feel the entire arena vibrate with the thousands of voices singing the lyrics simultaneously. It was an electrifying moment that will stay with everyone who attended the concert that night.
Kudos to the Yemi Alade Live in Concert organisers for pulling off what is undoubtedly one of Paris’s best events of 2022. Nothing was left to chance on the night. The technical team, their apparent excellence shone all through the event as the stage, sound, and lights worked seamlessly to ensure a great event and give Yemi Alade the opportunity she needed to etch her memory in the minds of her teeming fans in Paris on a night that was like heaven.
She will be back in Paris, and when she does, fans will most likely remember the night of Sunday, 6th November 2022, when she gave
them the performance of a lifetime at her show.
Lastly, stay up to date with all you need to know about African music at S.O.A. right here.
