During her recent guest appearance on the most recent episode of the Tea with Tay Podcast, the performer opened up about her personal life. She grinned as she talked about what it was like to have an Igbo mother and a Yoruba father in a blended family.
Home was just home to her, her parents just “mum and dad.” Yemi Alade was raised in what she described as a “shielded” setting and was unaware of her parents’ different cultural backgrounds. She said at the time that she had no idea outside of her home about the multitude of distinctions between the two cultures.
She said, “I didn’t know that there was a difference growing up. First of all, I just had my mum and my dad. We were one of those families that had uncles, aunties, and cousins living with us. My dad was that kind of person, so we had people around.”
Continuing, she recalled how people outside tried to categorise her into either ethnic groups and not always in the nicest ways.
“I was not aware of the cultural differences until later, especially when people started arguing if I was Yoruba or Igbo. Some people would say ‘Omo Yoruba’ or ‘Omo Igbo,’ and it wasn’t said as a compliment. That’s when I noticed that there was a difference in cultures, and being born into a Yoruba and Igbo family isn’t so common. But one thing I got to enjoy about being in a multicultural family is the food. I get to eat both Igbo and Yoruba delicacies,”
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