Yemi Alade, Ed Sheeran, Others to Perform at Prince William’s Earthshot Prize Awards

Nigerian Afrobeats star Yemi Alade is set to perform at the inaugural Earthshot Prize Awards alongside international music stars including Ed Sheeran, Coldplay and Shawn Mendes.

The singer, who recently completed her Empress tour across several cities in the United States, has continued to expand her international presence with appearances on major television platforms.

During an interview on the UK television programme Sunday Brunch, Alade spoke about the growing global influence of Nigerian music and credited healthy competition among artistes for improving the quality of the country’s sound.

“The healthy competition between Nigerian musicians has made our sound better and made us better musicians,” she said.

Alade also appeared on an Al Jazeera programme with journalist Femi Oke, where she discussed the importance of greater female representation in the entertainment industry and encouraged young women to pursue ambitious careers in music.

The singer, who released her Empress album and Queendoncom EP, is expected to perform at the Earthshot Prize ceremony at Alexandra Palace in London.

The event, organised by the Royal Foundation and spearheaded by Prince William, is designed to recognise innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.

Hosted by Clara Amfo and Dermot O’Leary, the ceremony will highlight efforts aimed at tackling climate change and protecting the planet.

Fifteen finalists were selected from around the world, with five winners expected to receive £1 million each to further develop their environmental projects.

The winners will be announced by a group of prominent presenters including the Duchess of Cambridge, footballer Mohamed Salah and actors Emma Thompson, Emma Watson and David Oyelowo.

The Earthshot Prize Awards will be televised on October 17, 2021, and will follow the documentary series The Earthshot Prize: Repairing Our Planet, which profiles the 15 finalists and their projects.