Nigerian Afropop star Tems has spoken out about the lack of respect for women in her industry. The two-time Grammy winner reflected on her early struggles to be taken seriously in her career, saying, "I realized there’s always a cost, and many of those costs I wasn’t willing to pay, with few options available." Despite Afropop's global rise, the industry remains overwhelmingly male-dominated.
The "Big Three" in the industry—Burna Boy, Davido, and Wizkid—are all male, while female artists like Tiwa Savage and Yemi Alade have voiced their struggles due to gender barriers. Tems, too, has faced challenges, including negative comments about her body after a performance video was shared online. In response, she posted: "It's just a body, I’ll gain and lose weight. I never hid it, I just didn’t feel the need to prove anything. The more you dislike it, the better for me."
Tems is determined to change how women perceive themselves in music. Through her new initiative, The Leading Vibe Initiative, she hopes to create opportunities for young women across Africa’s music scene. She shared, "I promised myself that if I ever reached a place where I could do more, I’d create this initiative to make it easier for women to find platforms, reach a broader audience, and succeed."
The Leading Vibe Initiative launched on Friday in Tems’ hometown of Lagos, offering workshops, masterclasses, and panel discussions to vocalists, songwriters, and producers, aimed at skill-building and networking.
When asked what advice she’d give young women entering the industry, Tems said, "It's important to know what you want for yourself, what your brand is, and what your boundaries are. What would you do for fame, and what wouldn’t you?"
Tems, known for hits like Love Me Jeje and Free Mind, emphasized the importance of passion. "Not everyone who sings loves music. If I wasn’t famous, I'd still be making music—maybe at a jazz club on a Friday night," she shared.
Now, five years after her debut, Tems has collaborated with Beyoncé and Rihanna, amassed over 17 million monthly Spotify listeners, headlined global festivals, and next month, she’ll support Coldplay during their sold-out shows at Wembley Stadium.
Tems attributes her success to being "authentic" and "audacious."
"Even when people tell you to change your sound or style, you stand firm and say, 'No.' I was okay not being signed," she shared.
Beyond music, Tems is a passionate football fan and recently became a part-owner of US football team San Diego FC. "I never imagined myself owning a football team," she admitted, crediting her brother for introducing her to the sport.
Her partnership with Pave Investments, a West African firm, also raised funds for the NBA-linked African Basketball League. Tems hopes her journey encourages others to take bold, unconventional steps, adding, "I’m more than just a singer—I'm much more than that."