Grammy award-winning singer Tems has spoken out about the lack of respect for women in Nigeria’s music industry.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a recent BBC interview, Tems reflected on her early career challenges and revealed that women are not given the respect they deserve in the industry.
“Women are not given the respect they deserve in Nigeria’s music industry,” she said.
Tems, known for hits like ‘Love Me Jeje’, shared her experiences and the prices she had to pay to succeed in the industry. “I realised that there’s always a cost. There’s always a price that you pay. And a lot of those prices I wasn’t willing to pay, and there weren’t a lot of options,” she said.
To address these challenges, Tems has launched The Leading Vibe Initiative, a project aimed at transforming how women perceive themselves in the music business.
“I promised myself that if I get to a place where I can do more, I will make this initiative for women like me and maybe make it easier for women to access platforms and access a wider audience and success,” she explained.
The Afrobeats industry, which has gained global recognition in recent years, remains male-dominated. Tems’ comments echo the sentiments of other female artistes, such as Tiwa Savage and Yemi Alade, who have spoken out about the systemic barriers they face in the industry.
When asked for advice for aspiring female artistes, Tems emphasized the importance of knowing one’s worth and boundaries.
“I think it’s important to have an idea of what you want for yourself, what your brand is, what’s your boundary. What are the things that you wouldn’t do for fame and the things that you would do?” she said.
Tems has won two Grammy Awards, including the ‘Best African Performance’ category at the 2025 Grammy Awards. Her collaboration with Wizkid on ‘Essence’ in 2020 helped launch her career, and she has since become a leading voice in the Afrobeats industry.
