Afropop superstar Yemi Alade has opened up about a brief period in her life when she became addicted to smoking, revealing how the habit began during her university days and how it almost cost her voice and her peace of mind.
In an Honest Conversation with Chude Jideonwo, the Johnny crooner admitted that her experimentation with cigarettes quickly escalated into a nightly ritual.
“When I was in the university, I tried smoking. It didn’t work out. But before it didn’t work out, it worked out a bit too much,” she confessed. “I started needing to smoke before I go to bed. I was getting addicted to that lifestyle.”
The singer recalled how the need to hide her smoking habit in public created an inner conflict that made her reconsider her choices.
“In public, I would hide the cigarette. So, I was like, ‘What’s this life?’ The discomfort of not being able to go to bed without smoking and then hiding it when I go out… As a teenager in the university trying to figure out life, I made a decision that if I’m going to hide to do something, I won’t do it.”
Alade explained that the realization helped her break free from the habit before it did further damage, particularly to her voice, which she says suffered during that period.
“Cigarettes are not for me. They harmed me. They affected my voice anyways. So, I stopped. Smoking for me did not last up to a year”, she said.
The multiple award-winning singer, known for her vibrant energy and vocal strength, shared her story as a lesson in self-awareness and discipline, emphasizing the importance of making decisions that align with one’s values.
Her candid confession sheds light on the silent struggles that even successful artists face behind the scenes and how self-reflection can lead to freedom and growth.