Tems Talks Early Career Obstacles and Plans to Make Women in Music More Visible

Image: Google 

Nigerian singer and songwriter Tems, a two-time Grammy winner, has talked about the hurdles she faced when starting out in the music industry. She revealed how difficult it was to earn recognition as both a singer and a producer.

In an interview with CNN, Tems spoke about feeling invisible and unsupported during her early career.

“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, I didn’t feel seen, and I didn’t feel supported for a very long time,” she said.

The singer stressed that remaining authentic has always been central to her work. “Authenticity is everything to me. That’s the one thing I cannot compromise on because that’s all I have — who I really am,” Tems explained.

Tems is now using her platform to uplift other women in the industry through her initiative, The Leading Vibe. The program seeks to give visibility to female professionals working behind the scenes, from producers to audio engineers.

“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,” she added.

The 30-year-old singer has already achieved significant milestones, including two Grammy Awards. She won her first in 2023 for Best Melodic Rap Performance for her feature on Future’s “Wait For U” with Drake, and her second in 2025 for Best African Music Performance for her song “Love Me JeJe.”

#Tems

#Career

#NollywoodTimes