Nigerian Afropop star and two-time Grammy winner Tems has spoken out about the “lack of respect” for women in the music industry, highlighting the challenges she faced early in her career.
In an interview with the BBC, Tems revealed she struggled to be taken seriously and refused to compromise her values for success. “There’s always a price that you pay. A lot of those prices I wasn’t willing to pay,” she said.
Despite Afropop’s global rise, female artists, including Tiwa .S and Yemi Alade, have also voiced concerns about gender-based barriers. Tems herself faced online criticism about her body earlier this year, responding on X: “The more you don’t like my body, the better for me actually.”
To address these issues, Tems launched The Leading Vibe Initiative in Lagos on Friday, aimed at empowering young women in Africa’s music industries. She affirmed that as a woman she’s in the best position to change such narrative; “…as a woman myself, I’m the best person something like this, the aim is to change the way people see women and the way women see themselves in music.”
The program hosted workshops, masterclasses, and panels for vocalists, songwriters, and producers to build skills and networks. “I promised myself that if I got to a place where I could do more, I would make this initiative for women like me,” Tems said, urging aspiring artists to define their boundaries and stay passionate about their craft.
“I don’t see myself as just a singer,” she said, encouraging others to pursue bold ventures. Her initiative and outspokenness signal a push for change in an industry where women are often undervalued.
