Nigerian Singer-Songwriter Aṣa Named 2025 Yale World Fellow

Nigerian singer-songwriter Bukola Elemide, better known as Aṣa, has been selected as one of the 16 global leaders for the 2025 Yale World Fellows Program. Hosted by Yale University’s International Leadership Center, this prestigious four-month residency brings together influential figures from a diverse range of sectors including arts, technology, human rights, and international development.

Aṣa’s appointment to the fellowship highlights her significant contributions to the music industry as well as her broader impact as a cultural leader. The Yale World Fellows Program, established in 2002, has a long history of fostering global leadership by providing academic enrichment, leadership training, and mentorship opportunities. Over the years, it has welcomed more than 400 fellows from 101 countries.

Emma Sky, director of Yale’s International Leadership Center, remarked on the importance of the program’s diverse cohort, noting that the fellows “are operating with remarkable savvy and often immense courage on the frontlines of the fight for a better world.” Aṣa’s participation underscores the growing recognition of artists as pivotal voices in global conversations on social change and cultural influence.

As the 2025 cohort prepares to convene, Aṣa joins a dynamic group of leaders set to contribute innovative ideas and solutions to some of today’s most pressing global challenges. Her inclusion is widely seen as a testament to the transformative power of the arts in shaping public discourse and inspiring positive change worldwide.