“We Have to Work 10 Times More Than Men to Get Noticed” - Fave Laments Treatment of Female Artists

Nigerian singer Fave has opened up about what she describes as the unfair standards female artists face in the music industry, saying women often have to work significantly harder than their male counterparts to get the same level of attention.

Speaking on the Afropolitan Podcast, the “Baby Riddim” singer said female artists are frequently judged by their appearance, clothing and bodies instead of being assessed primarily for their music and talent. According to Fave, conversations about female artists online often focus more on their physical appearance and perceived sex appeal than their actual music.

“It’s never really about the music; it’s more about people’s sexual desires or their fantasies about you.”

She argued that women are expected to meet certain beauty standards before their music is taken seriously, pointing to things such as body shape, skin and clothing as areas where female artists face scrutiny.

Fave also compared the expectations placed on male and female musicians, saying she believes men are generally not subjected to the same level of scrutiny over their appearance. The singer further argued that female performers often have to bring even more to the stage because of the pressure to prove themselves.

“When it comes to performances, I think the female artists do way more. They bring their best to the stage, and they leave it all there before they leave.”

Fave also recalled encountering music industry executives who were reluctant to sign female artists because they considered them difficult to manage. She said these experiences contributed to her view that women have to work much harder to establish themselves in an industry she described as “quote-unquote misogynistic.”

“What you’re gonna do to get a guy to be talked about, you’re going to have to do ten times for a woman.”

Despite the challenges, Fave said she is still working to build her own audience and wants people to focus more on the music she has to offer rather than other aspects of her image.

Her comments have since reignited conversations about sexism, beauty standards and the different expectations placed on male and female artists in Nigeria’s music industry.