Over the past five years, African female artistes have been steadily rising to prominence, dominating the charts. Artistes like Temilade Openiyi, better known as Tems, Ayra Starr, Tyla, and Amaarae are expanding the space in an industry that was once male-dominated and limited to just a handful of female names.

Notwithstanding the challenges faced by Africa female artistes, including traditional gender roles and pay disparities, the songstress and two-time Grammy Award-winning artiste, had always been on a mission to transcend boundaries.

With her unique blend of soulful vocals and genre-bending production, she had captivated audiences worldwide. But she isn’t satisfied with just being a great musician; her desire is to leave a lasting legacy.

In a bid to continue to establish a pathway for other women artistes like her, the Born in a Wild hitmaker recently launched the Leading Vibe initiative (LVI), a mentorship and support program designed to empower and connect emerging women artistes, producers, and songwriters with the support and community they need to grow.

Last weekend, the initiative held its first in-person programme in Lagos. The two-day programme, which held from August 8 to 9, was supported by Hennessy and Native Instruments brought together 20 emerging women in music from across Nigeria, including producers, artistes, and songwriters, with activities shared among the core tracks of artiste performance, songwriting, and music production. It included masterclasses, workshops, and panel discussions.

Reiterating the inspiration and vision for the initiative, the For Broken Ears crooner in a press statement in July, said the initiative was born out of an awareness of the myriad challenges facing women African artistes and a strong desire to address them.

“My goal with the Leading Vibe Initiative is to help discover and support talented young women who have the potential to redefine the industry. By opening doors and building a real community, we can equip more women with the tools, resources, and networks they need to break barriers, amplify their voice, and shape the future of the global music industry,” Tems said.

“When I started as an artiste, I had to teach myself everything, from production to navigating the music industry. Today, I’m fortunate to have a team that shares my vision, but I know my story isn’t unique.

“There are many women with the same drive and potential, but without access to the right tools or network. That is why I started the Leading Vibe initiative. Seeing the first group together in Lagos, supporting each other, and growing through the experience, reminded me exactly why this matters,” she said.