Grammy-winning Nigerian singer, Temilade Openiyi, better known as Tems, has revealed that women are not respected in the country’s music industry.
Speaking in a recent BBC interview, Tems said she faced difficulties being taken seriously at the start of her career simply because of her gender.
“People don’t really respect women in the [music] industry,” she stated.
The Love Me Jeje crooner added that she hopes to “change the way women see themselves in music” through her new project, The Leading Vibe Initiative, which is designed to give women better access to platforms, wider audiences, and greater success.
She urged aspiring female musicians to be clear on their personal goals, brand identity, and boundaries: “What are the things that you wouldn’t do for fame and the things that you would do?”
Her comments echo similar concerns raised by other top Nigerian female artists, including Tiwa Savage and Yemi Alade, about gender-based challenges in the industry.
