Afropop star, Yemi Alade has revealed that she once developed a short-term smoking addiction during her university days but decided to quit after she realised that it had damaged her voice.
In a recent interview, the “Johnny” singer shared that what began as a casual experiment, quickly turned into a nightly routine.
She said the experience taught her valuable lessons about self-awareness and personal discipline.
“Some people say, ‘I don’t smoke, I don’t do this, I don’t do that.’ When I was in the university, I tried smoking,” Alade admitted. “At first, it seemed harmless, but before I knew it, I started needing to smoke before going to bed. I was getting addicted to that lifestyle.”
The award-winning singer explained that she began to feel uncomfortable hiding her cigarettes in public and eventually realized the habit was not aligned with her values—or her career as a vocalist.
“I told myself, if I have to hide to do something, then it’s not for me. Besides, it started affecting my voice, which is my livelihood. So, I stopped,” she said, adding that her smoking phase lasted less than a year.
Yemi Alade’s candid confession has sparked discussions online about the pressures young adults face in university and how early choices can impact long-term health and careers.
