Yemi Alade can still feel Beyoncé’s halo.
The “Don’t Jealous Me” singer—who was featured on the “Single Ladies” singer’s Black is King film and The Lion King: The Gift album—shared how her collaboration with Queen Bey has had a lasting impact on her career.
“Working on Black is King in 2020 will forever have an impact on my life,” Yemi told E! News in an exclusive interview, “for the rest of my life.”
As a self-proclaimed “big Beyoncé fan,” the 36-year-old revealed collaborating with the Dreamgirls actress was “one of the things that I had written as a desire for myself” and “it definitely changed my life.”
In terms of the cultural impact, Yemi felt that Black is King “needed to happen when it happened.” Afrobeats, amapiano and other genres from the African continent have grown more of a global fanbase since the film’s premiere.
“Audiences around the world are excited for the music,” the songwriter explained. “It doesn’t matter sometimes if you don’t even understand the words, the melodies, the tune, the rhythms—somehow our bodies are tuned to vibrations, and we understand the emotion that has been put in the words.”
This July will mark five years since the musical film was released, which, along with Yemi, featured appearances from a star-studded lineup of African artists from across the globe, such as Wizkid, Burna Boy, Tiwa Savage, Shatta Wale, Mr. Eazi, Jay-Z, Blue Ivy Carter, Tina Knowles, Pharrell Williams, Kelly Rowland, Naomi Campbell and Lupita N’yongo.
For Yemi—who set the world ablaze with her 2014 hit “Johnny” and continues to champion Nigerian culture—Beyoncé and the Parkwood team’s lineup of collaborators were obviously not chosen lightly.
“I’m grateful that Beyoncé and her team carefully selected people based on merit. It wasn’t a cooked-up list of names,” she continued. “They really put a lot of thought into it.”
And that’s why Yemi was more than happy to witness the “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer finally take home the Album of the Year award for Cowboy Carter at the 2025 Grammys ceremony.
“She deserved that and more,” she gushed. “As a woman, [as] a family woman, as a career-driven lady and everything that she stands for—and to be competing against these young guys and still win—it’s always something to be inspired by.”
And while Yemi admitted that it’s been a minute since the pair has seen each other, she looks forward to future collaborations.
“Working with Beyoncé will always be on the table,” Yemi told E!. “She’s still in the studio. I’m always in the studio as well. Why can’t we get in the studio again?”
For now, fans can enjoy the Afrobeats musician’s latest song, “You Are” from the Cartoon Network and Max Nigerian animated series Iyanu. And as far as this new track and her future work goes, the singer insisted she has no plans to stray from her roots.
“I think the majority of my entire career will still be about African sound and African culture,” the activist shared. “It would just always be the flag that I’ll be flying.”
Scroll to see more stars from Black Is King…
Aweng Ade-Chuol
South Sudanese beauty Aweng Ade-Chuol has come a long way after being discovered while working at McDonalds in Australia. Since then, she has walked in shows for Pyer Moss, Asai and Rihanna‘s Savage x Fenty label. (She even nabbed a campaign with them!) When Ade-Chuol isn’t strutting down the runway, she spends her time working on her law degree at the University of New England and hanging with her new wife Alexus Ade-Chuol!
Nandi Madida
Portraying Nala in the film is South African actress and musician Nandi Madida. The pink-haired beauty may be someone to keep an eye on. After all, she was recently nominated for two South African AMAs!
Stephen Ojo
Stephen Ojo plays the abstract blue man you see many times throughout the film. Ojo is a talented dancer and rising Afrobeats star, who has danced for artist like Rihanna, Chris Brown, Janet Jackson, Teyana Taylor and Travis Scott. This is also not his first time dancing for Queen Bey: He was also apart the Spirit music video for the Lion King soundtrack.
Connie Chiume
South African actress Connie Chiume—best known for her role in Black Panther as an elder—portrays Simba’s mother Sarabi in the visual album.
Shatta Wale
Shatta Wale was introduced to us on The Gift‘s “Already,” but the African Dancehall King makes his presence known in Black is King. The Ghanaian singer recently broke records with the most packed concert in the history of Ghana music with his Reign concert.
Folajomi Akinmurele
The tiny showstopper who plays Young Simba is portrayed by 7 year-old Folajomi Akinmurele. You may also be surprised to find out that his only other acting credit is also with Queen Bey in the “Spirit” video for the Lion King.
Nyaniso Dzedze
Actor and dancer Nyaniso Dzedze, who plays grown Simba, is best known for being the lead in South Africa’s first dance feature film Hear Me Move and playing Tsietsi Namane on South Africa telenovela, Ashes To Ashes.
Mary Twala
Playing Rafiki is the late Mary Twala. After an illustrious 60-year career in South African film, Black is King was Twala’s last production before she passed in July 2020.
Warren Masemola
The villain we all love to hate, Scar, is portrayed by South African actor Warren Masemola, who is best known for his role as Lentswe Mokethi on Scandal. There are a lot of big things going on in the actor’s life, as it looks like he is expanding his family, according to his Instagram.
Yemi Alade
Nigerian songstress Yemi Alade, who is featured on not one but two songs on The Gift, shows us all her moves in Black is King. With 11.6 million followers she may be someone you want to add to your playlist!
Busiswa
South African singer-songwriter and poet Busiswa makes her energetic mark during My Power in Black is King. The body positive artist also shocked fans recently with major weight transformation while teasing the film.
