Tems: The making of Afrobeats Queen, her journey to global
In the ever-evolving Nigerian music landscape, few artistes have captivated audiences and defied expectations quite like Temilade Openiyi, professionally known as Tems. DANIEL ANAZIA takes a look at the 29 years old songstress’ rise from being bullied to now one of the most celebrated and influential voices in Afrobeats.
With another Grammy award now proudly in her possession, Tems’ ascension to global stardom is a testament to her unwavering dedication, innovative artistry, and the unrelenting passion of her devoted fan base.
She won her first Grammy Award in 2023 for Best Melodic Rap Performance for her contribution in the song, Wait For U, with Future and Drake. She became the first Nigerian singer to be nominated in the category.
Tems’ second Grammy at the just held 67th edition of the prestigious award was for the “Best African Musical Performance” a category dominated heavily by Nigerian music heavyweights such as the Grammy award winners, Burna Boy and Wizkid; Asake, Davido, Yemi Alade and Lojay, with the hit song, Love Me JeJe. The song beat Higher by Burna Boy, MMS by Asake and Wizkid and Tomorrow by Yemi Alade, has notched up some 20 million views on YouTube.
Early Beginnings
Born in London and raised there for a few years, at four years old Tems moved back to Nigeria with mother and brother following her parents’ divorce. Confronted with this vulgar uprooting at such a young age, left her archives of fond childhood memories bare, and forced her to grow up much quicker than many of her peers did.
According to her, “home didn’t feel like home, thanks to my frightful step-father, and school wasn’t any better,” Tems recollected. But amid the unrelenting bullying from her peers and teachers alike, she found solace in singing and an unlikely mentor in Mr. Sosan, her music teacher at Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos, where she had secondary school education.
“I wasn’t a cool kid; I wasn’t popular – at least not for good things. I used to cry a lot, and people used to call me names. I didn’t have any friends, so I spent a lot of time in the school music room practicing singing.
“I didn’t like using my real voice, so I would sing really soft. I thought my real voice was ugly and it was too loud. I wanted to sound like other girls whose voices were really soft and flowery,” Tems enthused.
According to her, she started fanning and nurturing her music craft at The Rock Montessori where she had her primary education, and never felt welcome but frequently bullied by her peers and teachers alike because of her voice
At Dowen College, Tems joined the school choir and soon began singing in falsetto but was noticed by her music teacher, Mr. Sosan, who coached and taught her how to play the piano.
Recalling her time with Sosan with great fondness, the Grammy winner admitted that things got much better for her as she learnt to express her emotions through song and accept herself for who she is.
She stated that not only did Sosan offer her the Dowen College music room as a place of refuge, he also believed in her for who she was deep within and pushed her to hone her creative talent at age 11.
“During breaks and after school, I would sing songs with Mr. Sosan playing the piano. At home I practiced with my brother who often accompanied me on guitar. My real voice was ugly and it was too loud. I wanted to sound like other girls whose voices were really soft and flowery,” the sultry singer cum songwriter recollected.
In 2018, Tems ditched her job in digital marketing to pursue a career in music full-time. She started out by learning self-taught production skills on YouTube, and on July 18, the same year, she released her debut single, Mr Rebel, a song which she produced by herself. She noted that prior to this, as a young girl, she was withdrawn as she struggled to find her voice. Like most Nigerian women, she was forced at a young age to hammer down any part of herself that didn’t fit the status quo, lock it in a cage deep within, and leave it there until she forgets who she really is.
Following the critical acceptance of the song, Tems began to gain traction within Nigeria’s burgeoning music scene. Her soulful, raspy vocals and introspective lyrics resonated deeply with listeners, particularly among the younger generation.
As her online presence grew, so did her confidence, and she began to hone her craft, releasing a string of well-received singles and collaborating with other artistes. On August 7, 2019, she released the single Try Me.
Breakthrough and Rise to Prominence
In 2020, Tems was selected by DJ Edu as one of “10 Artistes to watch’ that year. On 23 April the same year, she was featured alongside Davido on a reworked version of American singer-songwriter Khalid and English electronic music duo Disclosure’s single, Know Your Worth.
Following this exposure, Tems unlocked the society’s cage and set herself on fire to light the way for a new vanguard – the rebel gang – the name given to her loyal fanbase. Her major breakthrough arrived on September 25, the same year with the release of her debut Extended Play (EP) titled, For Broken Ears.
As Tems popularity soared, she began to attract international attention, collaborating with renowned artistes including Canadian rapper Drake, Wizkid, and Khalid. Her feature on Wizkid’s Essence (2021), a track off the Grammy award winner’s fourth studio album, titled, Made in Lagos, earned her a number one spot on BBC 1Xtra Airplay Chart, and also earned her first career entry on Billboard Hot 100 at Number 9.
The Grammy and Afrobeats’ Global Moment
Tems’ Grammy win is more than an individual achievement; it’s a landmark for Afrobeats and African music. It’s a conversation about recognition, the changing landscape of music awards, and the integration of African sounds into the global music scene.
The win underscores the genre’s maturity, ability to produce stars that can compete with the world’s best, and the increasing importance of African narratives in the global music movement. Tems’ journey from her days in digital marketing to standing on the Grammy stage is a narrative of resilience, talent, and cultural pride.
Her date with destiny came on February 5, 2023, when she made history by becoming the first Nigerian young female artiste to win a Grammy. Her contribution to Future’s Wait for U (2022) earned her the award for Best Melodic Rap Performance.
The achievement not only capped off an incredible year for Tems but also underscored her status as a trailblazer in Afrobeats and a beacon of inspiration for aspiring artistes worldwide. She’s not just an artiste; she’s a symbol and poster girl of how the genre has evolved and continues to influence and be influenced by global music trends.
Asked if she had always wanted to make music, the history maker said, “Yes I have; the difference was just finding the courage to actually do it considering where I was, where I come from, my family and just who I was in society.
“I wasn’t anybody that had any kind of opportunity; I didn’t have connections and I couldn’t figure out how to do it. All I’m just trying to do is make music that speaks to people, that heals people, that inspires people.”
With her remarkable journey, unwavering passion, and dedication to her craft, Tems has undoubtedly become a shining star in the music universe, illuminating the path for others to follow.
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