Go where the love is

Nigerian Afrobeat artiste Yemi Alade has opened up about her personal mantra, revealing that she learned early in her career to “go where the love is” rather than force herself into spaces where she wasn’t welcomed.

Speaking during a chat with Chude Jideonwo monitored by MyNewsGh, the Johnny hitmaker said the lesson came from both personal and professional experiences that shaped her outlook.

“As a growing young girl who decided to go into the entertainment industry, I realized that things are much easier when you go where the love is,” she shared. “Literally, where you’re invited, you are received better. I have sense now. It’s better not to be a party crusher and just go where love is.”

According to Yemi, this philosophy was born seven years ago after she began to notice emotional distance from people she once called friends.

“At some point in my life, I started feeling a bit unwelcomed among people I thought were friends,” she said. “And career-wise, that feeling showed up too. I learned to protect my energy and focus on love.”

She added that this mindset has helped her maintain her balance in a demanding industry.

“For over seven years, my mantra for life has been going where the love is. It’s not about where other people are receiving love, I send love to them too. But I will almost always show up where the love is.”

Reflecting on her growth, Yemi said she’s learned to be deliberate about how she shows up, choosing intention over noise.

“You don’t have to constantly meet people’s mouths,” she said. “If I don’t have something to say, I won’t show up.”

For an artist who has spent over a decade redefining African pop, this simple philosophy, go where the love is, may be the quiet secret behind her staying power.