Published by Cyril — October 8, 2025
Grammy-winning Nigerian singer and songwriter Tems has shared heartfelt reflections on her early struggles in the music industry, revealing that it took years before people began to take her seriously as both a singer and producer.
Speaking in a recent CNN interview, Tems said she often felt overlooked and unsupported in her formative years.
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- “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 Essence hitmaker explained that her commitment to authenticity has been the cornerstone of her journey to success.
- “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 stated.
Beyond her personal achievements, Tems is now focused on empowering women in the music industry through her initiative, The Leading Vibe, which aims to spotlight and support women working behind the scenes as producers, managers, and sound engineers.
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- “There are so many talented women who can be producers, managers, or audio engineers — but they’re not even visible. I want to make them visible and create a space where we can redefine the perspective of women in music,” she said.
Tems also revealed plans to expand the programme beyond Nigeria, with the next stop being Kenya, as part of her goal to inspire women across Africa.
At 30, Tems has achieved remarkable success, including two Grammy Awards — her first in 2023 for Best Melodic Rap Performance on Future’s “Wait For U” featuring Drake, and her second in 2025 for Best African Music Performance with her hit single “Love Me JeJe.”
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