Simi, the renowned Nigerian singer, also known as Simisola Kosoko, has brought attention to the frequently tense dynamics among female artists in the music industry.
During a recent interview with Angela Yee, Simi shed light on the detrimental impact of fans constantly pitting female artists against each other, which puts unnecessary strain on their relationships.
Simi emphasized that the intense comparisons and rivalries fueled by fans can be highly distracting and obstructive, particularly considering the already limited representation of female artists in comparison to their male counterparts within the industry.
She noted:
“Fans pit women against each other in the music industry. It’s so intense sometimes. Sometimes it can be really distracting because there are not as many of us in the [music] industry compared to the guys”.
Simi emphasized that female artists can co-exist and thrive without being pitted against each other.
She stated that even though she has consistently advocated for women’s empowerment through her music and public statements, her message is still been often misunderstood.
Simi clarified:
“When a new female artist breaks into the industry, they [fans] just pit her against us with all forms of comparisons.
“We can all thrive. I have spoken about women several times even in my songs. But because I’m an artist people assume that the only way my talking about women can be valid is by featuring women in my songs. It’s just so weird because there are women in different walks of life.
“They do pit us against each other a lot and I think sometimes that puts some pressure on the kind of relationship that we would have otherwise.”