Legendary Nigerian singer Seyi Sodimu reveals his evergreen song “Love Me Jeje” was rejected by major labels in America because he sounded African.
“When I recorded Love Me Jeje, I didn’t release it for about 2 years because I tried to market it in New York but it was rejected. They told me I sounded too African. That same year, I traveled to Nigeria to promote my song and there was no wedding or any party you could go to without the DJ banging my song” Seyi Sodimu
According to him, they told him he was hard to market in the US because he looked quote-unquote American but sounded African. So he decided to promote his song in Nigeria and it blew up in every corner the same year.
Seyi didn’t just make a hit song—he helped shape Afrobeats as we know it today. When Tems reached out to him so she could sample his song, he accepted. Supported her financially and even cleared the song. She didn’t pay him a cent.
This is a clear proof that good music doesn’t fade away so easily. Tems brought his classic hit back into the spotlight and won the Grammy. This is why his legacy keeps growing.
Congratulations to Seyi Sodimu and Tems on their Grammy WIN (Love Me Jeje) 🏆