Girlhood and Popular Music in Nigeria: An Exploration of Yemi Alade's Afrocentric Narratives and Self-Construction
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Date
2025-04
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Theatre and Film Studies Department, Faculty of Humanities, Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworokwu, Port Harcourt
Abstract
This study explores the interplay of girlhood culture, Afrocentric narratives, and selfconstruction as expressed in Yemi Alade's music. While earlier scholarship has frequently
addressed girlhood and female identity across various fields, there remains a notable gap in examining how Afrocentric perspectives and self-construction are consciously woven into the works of female artists within Nigerian popular music. Accordingly, the study analyses Yemi Alade's artistry through the frameworks of girlhood studies, Afrocentrism, and selfconstruction theories, to identify and interpret these elements within her musical output. The study draws on the girlhood frameworks proposed by Pomerantz (2020) and Coulter (2019), Asante's (2001) concept of Afrocentricity, and Cherry's (2024) notion of self-construction. Employing content analysis of selected music of Yemi Alade, the study finds that her works vividly portray the vibrancy, challenges, and aspirations inherent in girlhood. Her music interweaves narratives of love, friendship, emotional depth, self-expression, and cultural pride, consistently highlighting the evolving identity of the African girl and underscoring self construction through African perspectives. The study recommends further expansion of girlhood studies in scholarship, particularly through an Afrocentric lens, positioning this work as a valuable contribution to feminist studies.