Much Ado About The N2.5 Million Dress Yemi Alade Wore to the BET Awards

She has dubbed herself ‘Mama Africa’. And clearly from her music, Yemi Alade tells one message and one message alone – she is Mama Africa. The last time we heard someone being called that, it was the legendary iconic, now late Mariam Makeba who was a civil rights activist apart from being an award winning musician. Hence, Yemi Alade has big shoes to fill.

The idea of being Mama Africa is about spreading the message that we should embrace our roots. Believe in Africa. Love being African. Be African.

So why did the K.I.S.S.I.N.G crooner attend the BET awards wearing something that was non-African?
She was spotted on the red carpet wearing the piece below from celebrated designer Zuhair Murad’s 2016 Resort Collection which reportedly cost a staggering sum of N2,500,000.

Zuhair is a Lebanese. Not an African. It is a disappointment that someone who calls herself Mama Africa and is the face of African Fashion Week Nigeria goes to an awards show outside the country to represent Nigeria and the continent rocking a Lebanese wear. What happened to Mademoiselle Aglaia, Iconola, Tinnah Styling, the designers whose wears Yemi is known to wear? Why did she choose to make such a bold fashion statement by choosing something that does not align with her image?

Well, we will not know her reasons until she chooses to respond. All the same, her fans are disappointed. This was her opportunity to represent Nigerian design but she blew it. She didn’t look Mama Africa. She looked Mama Colonized.

If wearing a Zuhair is about getting herself on the list of stars the designer has dressed, and having a name in the international scene, then she has achieved her purpose and we wish her well.