Few African artists have reshaped global pop culture as boldly as Tems. With her new Leading Vibe Initiative, she is extending her influence beyond the stage to champion women in music.
The Nigerian singer-songwriter, born Temilade Openiyi, has built a reputation for pushing boundaries without ever compromising who she is. “Authenticity is everything to me,” she says. “That’s the one thing I cannot compromise on because that’s all I have — who I really am.”
Her belief in staying true to herself has carried her from writing songs in Lagos bedrooms to some of the world’s biggest stages.
In July, she performed at New York’s MetLife Stadium during the FIFA Club World Cup halftime show, an experience she described as both nerve-wracking and humbling. “It was an honor to just be there,” she said, reflecting on the global moment.
That performance introduced many to her artistry, but for others, it confirmed her place among the most significant cultural exports from Africa. Tems has rewritten the rules of global music, blending grit with creativity to forge a path few thought possible.
Her rise was far from easy. In her early years, Tems struggled to be taken seriously, often producing her own music when no one else would give her a chance.
“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.” Those hardships, she admits, became her motivation.
That drive led to groundbreaking success. In 2020, she teamed up with Wizkid on Essence, the first Nigerian song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100.
Two years later, vocal samples from her track Higher were featured in Future and Drake’s Grammy-winning hit Wait for U, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 — another first for Nigerians. Her single Free Mind climbed U.S. charts, while her contributions reached Beyoncé’s Move and Rihanna’s Lift Me Up.
By 2025, she cemented her place in history, winning her own Grammy for Best African Music Performance with Love Me JeJe, a reimagining of a Nigerian classic.
Yet, Tems insists fame has never been her priority. “I wasn’t thinking, is this working or not working? I was just like, well, I’m going to be me. If being me lands me under the bridge, cool. If it lands me on top of the mountain, cool.”
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That same conviction inspired her to launch the Leading Vibe Initiative in August, a mentorship and training program aimed at supporting women aged 18 to 35 in music.
The project, which debuted in Lagos, brought together singers, producers, and engineers eager to connect and grow.
“It’s amazing how many people have come and supported us and even the amount of talent we have,” Tems said at the launch. “Honestly, I’m blown away and I can’t wait. This is a journey we’re all taking together, and I couldn’t find a better way to start.”
The initiative is deeply personal for Tems, who remembers her own struggles navigating a male-dominated industry.
Gatekeepers began to notice her only after her music achieved success without their help. “People started taking me seriously when my music got to a place they couldn’t fathom,” she recalls. “They were like, how did she do that? We didn’t give this to her.”
The Leading Vibe Initiative is not limited to Nigeria. Tems has already announced expansion plans, with Kenya as the next stop.
“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.”
Her vision goes beyond individual success. She sees the program as part of a larger movement to reshape how women are perceived and valued in music.
“There are so many talented women that can be producers, managers, audio engineers — but they’re not even visible. So, I want to make them visible and create a space where we can redefine the perspective of women in music.”
For Tems, legacy is about more than awards or headlines. “Fame is not what you want,” she reflects. “You could be famous and uncomfortable, famous and unsuccessful. What you really want is to be comfortable, you want to be able to provide [for yourself] and fame is not always that.”
By lifting others, Tems is proving that her greatest impact may not be the music shei creates, but the opportunities she sparks for the next generation of women in Africa and beyond.
CNN World
