Nigerian singer and songwriter Tems has revealed that she wasn’t taken seriously when she first began her music career.

In a recent CNN interview, the Grammy-winning artist opened up about the challenges she faced during that time.

The 30-year-old artist, Temilade Openiyi, also highlighted authenticity as a core principle she refuses to compromise.

Advertisement

READ MORE: “Music Artists Today Depend Too Much On Producers” — Bright Chimezie

“Authenticity is everything to me. That’s the one thing I cannot compromise on because that’s all I have — who I really am,” she said.

“It was really hard to get people to take me seriously — not just as a producer, but as a singer, period. I didn’t feel safe, and I didn’t feel seen, and I didn’t feel supported for a very long time.”

Tems, now leveraging her platform to provide the opportunities she once missed, revealed that her initiative, The Leading Vibe, is planning to expand beyond Nigeria.

According to her, the program is designed to support and uplift women working in behind-the-scenes roles within the music industry.

“There are so many talented women who can be producers, managers, audio engineers — but they’re not even visible,” she said.

“So, I want to make them visible and create a space where we can redefine the perspective of women in music.

“We’re definitely taking this beyond Nigeria. Actually, we’re going to Kenya next. There are women everywhere who just need to feel seen. All they need is that platform, all they need is that chance, and I really believe it’s going to change the shape of the music industry for sure.”

Tems began rising to prominence in 2020 through her collaboration with Wizkid on the track “Essence.”

In 2023, she won her first Grammy for her contribution to “Wait For U,” the 2022 hit by Future featuring Drake.

Tems secured her second Grammy at the 2025 awards, winning in the ‘Best African Performance’ category.