Grammy-winning Nigerian artist Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has opened up about the challenges she faced at the start of her music journey.
In a recent chat with CNN, Tems revealed that breaking into the industry wasn’t easy, as many people didn’t take her seriously in the beginning. She explained that she often felt unseen and unsupported during those early years.
“Authenticity means everything to me,” she said. “It’s the one thing I can’t compromise on because it’s all I have — who I truly am. It was really tough to get people to take me seriously, not just as a producer but even as a singer. For a long time, I didn’t feel safe, seen, or supported.”
Tems also spoke about her initiative, ‘The Leading Vibe,’ which she created to offer the kind of support she once needed. The platform focuses on empowering women working behind the scenes in the music industry — from producers and sound engineers to managers.
“There are so many talented women out there, but they’re not visible,” she said. “I want to change that by creating a space where women can be seen and recognized for their talent. We’re already planning to take this beyond Nigeria — our next stop is Kenya.
“There are women everywhere who just need that one opportunity to shine. Once they’re given the platform, I believe it’s going to reshape the future of the music industry.”
Through her words and actions, Tems continues to inspire a new generation of women to own their craft and redefine what it means to lead in music.
