On her milestone 10th project, Nigeria’s queen of Afropop, Yemi Alade, produces a spellbinding sonic tour of the African continent while absorbing global influences. Placing homegrown sounds at the heart of Rebel Queen, the Grammy award-winner advocates for the embrace of individuality, femininity and heritage. Alade’s motivational, multilingual lyrics combine with uplifting melodies and liberating rhythms for expressions of style, joy, nonconformity and elevated consciousness. This celebration of life, movement and sound sees Afrobeat, rumba and highlife rub shoulders with dance, hip-hop and ragga/dancehall as the nostalgia of yesteryear anchors Alade’s imaginative explorations. As Alade’s multicultural impulse comes to the fore, Angélique Kidjo, Ziggy Marley, KiDi, Innoss’B, Femi One and Konshens accompany her voyage across sonic worlds. The resultant confluence of influences sees the logdrums of “Ki Lo Wa Wa” meet the polyrhythmic strums of “Chairman”, cadenced percussion of “Carry Me” and tropical bounce of “Baddie (Remix)”. The music is imbued with this diversity and deft messaging that aligns the personal and communal. Accordingly, the anthemic crowd vocals of “Tomorrow” express hope in the future—one with the unity of purpose espoused by “Peace & Love”. The emancipatory “I’m Sorry” addresses gender dynamics, meanwhile, and shares its tone of empowerment with “African Woman”. By proudly colouring outside the lines in these meaningful hues, Alade attains a sense of self-assurance palpable on Rebel Queen. “I’m humble,” she proclaims on “Bop”. “But I’m not down to earth.”