Grammy award-winning singer Tems has stated that “women are not given the respect they deserve in Nigeria’s music industry.”
In a recent interview with the BBC, the acclaimed artiste, known for hits such as Love Me Jeje, reflected on the challenges she faced in the early stages of her career.
“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?”.