From Lagos to the Grammy Awards, Nigerian singer-songwriter Tems conquered the global stage without compromising who she was. “Authenticity is everything to me,” she says. “That’s one thing I can’t compromise on because it’s all I have.
The world was watching as Tem took the stage at MetLife Stadium in New York for the FIFA Club World Cup Halftime Show in July. The 30-year-old admits to playing for millions of global audiences. Still, she reflects on the moment with gratitude. “It was an honor to just be there,” she says.
For some, her performance was her first introduction to the soulful pop star, which has become one of Africa’s most well-known cultural exports. For many others, it was a confirmation of what they already knew. Tems is rewriting the rules of global music.
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Temirade Open began writing songs at a young age and taught her to produce music when few people were about to give her a shot. “It was really tough to have people take me seriously, not just as a producer, but as a singer,” she recalls. “I didn’t feel safe, I never saw it, I didn’t feel supported for a long time.” Those early struggles didn’t drive her crazy: instead, they became her fuel.
That grit strengthened her rise to superstar. Tems collaborated with Wizkid on “Essence” in 2020. This became the first Nigerian song on the Billboard Hot 100. Her own single, “Free Mind,” climbed the US charts, with her voice and lyrics heading towards Beyoncé’s “Move” and Rihanna’s “Lift Me Up.”
In 2025, she solidified her place among the Grammy-winning musical elite for her best African musical performance for “Love Me Jeje,” a reimagining Nigerian classic.
Despite her rapid rise, Tems claims fame was not the goal. “I wasn’t thinking, is this working or not working? Well, I was going to be me. If it’s me, if I landed me, it’s cool.
Her fearless authenticity has become her trademark.
And now she’s passing that belief on something bigger than her. In August, Tems launched a major Vibe initiative, a mentorship and training platform designed to support women in music. The initiative hopes to reshape an industry that often stands by women’s talent. “There are so many talented women who can become producers, managers, and audio engineers, but they don’t even see them,” she says. “So I want to create a space where I can make them visible and redefine the female perspective of music.”
With an initiative open to women aged 18-35, Tems chose to start in Lagos, but her ambitions don’t stop there. “We definitely surpass Nigeria. In fact, we’ll go to Kenya next,” she says. “There are all women everywhere who need to feel they can be seen, and all they need is that platform.
The launch event in Lagos attracted a passionate crowd of dozens of young women, including singers, producers and engineers. “It’s amazing how many people come and even the amount of talent we have,” Tems said at the event. “To be honest, I’m blown away and can’t wait. This is a journey we’re all taking together and we couldn’t find a better way.”
Her vision for the main vibe is deeply personal. She remembers husing from studio to studio, trying to find an alliance in a male-dominated industry. The gatekeeper only began to pay attention after accomplishing what her music could not. “When I got to a place where my music couldn’t be guessed, people started taking me seriously,” she says. “How did they do that? We didn’t give her this.”
“Faciality isn’t what you want,” Tems reflects. “You may be famous and uncomfortable, you may be famous and you may fail. What you really want is to be comfortable.
“So I think it’s very important to you to define who you are, because if you don’t, others will,” she adds
By building a movement for women in Africa and beyond, Tems’ most important legacy may be the door she opens for others, not the music she creates.
CNN’s Larry Madowo and Lamide Akintobi contributed to this report.
