Tems, the Grammy award-winning singer, has declared that “women are not given the respect they deserve in Nigeria’s music industry.
The acclaimed artiste, known for hits like Love Me Jeje, reflected on her early career challenges in a recent BBC interview.
I realised that there’s always a cost. There’s always a price that you pay. And a lot of those prices I wasn’t willing to pay, and there weren’t a lot of options, she said.
The two-time Grammy award-winner also spoke about her new project The Leading Vibe Initiative, which aims to transform how women perceive themselves in the music business.
I promised myself that if I get to a place where I can do more, I will make this initiative for women like me and maybe make it easier for women to access platforms and access a wider audience and success, Tems said.
Afrobeats has exploded onto the global stage over the past decade, yet its success story remains overwhelmingly male-dominated.
The genre’s undisputed Big Three — Burna Boy, Davido, and Wizkid — are all men, while leading women like Tiwa Savage and Yemi Alade have repeatedly called out the systemic barriers they face as female artistes in the industry.
When asked to share advice for aspiring female artistes, Tems said: I think it’s important to have an idea of what you want for yourself, what your brand is, what’s your boundary.
What are the things that you wouldn’t do for fame and the things that you would do?.
Tems, born Temilade Openiyi, started to gain popularity in 2020, courtesy of her collaboration with Wizkid on the song Essence.
In 2023, she earned her first Grammy for her contribution to Wait For U, the 2022 hit song by Future featuring Drake.
Tems clinched her second at the 2025 Grammy Awards for the Best African Performance category.
