Tumbum: Yemi Alade
Yup guys, we are focusing on Tumbum: Yemi Alade , the self acclaimed Mama of Africa.
Do you still remember the MTV Africa’s Music Awards (MTVMAMA2016) held in Johannesburg? Yes, it was hosted by three lovely ladies, Bonang Methaba, Nomzamo Mbatha and of-course, our very own, Yemi Alade.
Sorry to digress a little but i just want to point something out which is that i didnt think she could do anything on stage apart from performing good music. So i was quite taken aback when she exuded superb finesse alongside other South Africa’s best emcees, Bonang Metheba and Nomzamo without a bit of stage fright.
Wait…!
Don’t conclude on how low you think my IQ just dropped now because I do have my reasons. #blinksEyes and this is it. I used to be a broadcaster and i loveeeed my job apart from the constant work pressure that i was under. I was pretty much comfortable behind the mic in that lil box of mine,doing my own thing and making fans long for more of what i can entertain them with but that was that. Behind the radio!
When it came to standing on a podium to compere, i would literally have my racing heart in my throat and giving me one helluva palpitation. When i tell a friend about this part of my job and how I distaste being out there…they think to themselves like “how you gonna be talking on radio to alot of people and be scared to talk to these same people LIVE on stage. You get my drift, yea?”
That’s my point as with regards to how i didn’t think Yemi Alade would do a good job talking than singing!
Anyways, moving on from all of the gibberish i just spewed out to what i really have in store for you today. Yemi Alade, the first artiste to have won the MTVMAMA’s award for best female artiste twice in 2015 and 2016, last week went on instagram to released the snippet of her new video, TUMBUM off the album, Mama Africa: the diary of an African woman. I am currently watching it as i type this.
Guys, forget it!
Naija artistes (the good ones ooh) can and should never be compared with/to any other African artistes. They have mastered the craft of good delivery and know how to bring it on. This video featured Big brother housemate and lingere model, Beverly OsuNollywood actor, Ime Bishop who seemed to be in a fix, deliberating on what girl he would like to court between Yemi Alade and Nkechi. Yemi Alade acted out as a mama put, dishing out food for customers as hilarious Okon deliberated hard on his decision. Isn’t that the case with most guys? Who don’t know what they want?
Anyways, the storyline is nice but the beat sounds like what I have heard in one of her songs, “Taking over me.” Picture quality is particularly wack and that killed it for me. The lyrics, empty! No content! At the end of the day, I wasted three minutes of my life watching nothing but dry music!
I honestly think Yemi Alade has clutched onto her heavily laced African niche that she isn’t reinventing herself. Anyone can easily predict her music and that is not good for the market. There’s got to be diversification, there’s got to be that surprise factor and that keeps the fans wanting more and staying glued.
Its not mandatory to be in the scene by force just to stay relevant when you know you are running out of ideas. I personally think she just took it a step backward with TUMBUM in comparison to “Want you” a song produced by Maleek Berry.
You may disagree with me but hey that’s my two cents about the song!
RATE CARD: 45%
Album: “Mama Africa: The Diary of an African Woman”.
Producer: Selebobo
Track: Tumbum
Director: Paul Gambit
Featured: Ime Bishop Umoh and Beverly Osu
