Tems Challenges Gender Norms in Afropop Music Industry

Tems, a Grammy-winning Afropop artist, speaks on the struggles women face in her industry and introduces The Leading Vibe Initiative to support young female talents in Africa's music scene.

Nigerian Afropop sensation Tems has recently opened up about the challenges women encounter in the music industry, stating, "people don't really respect women." In an interview with the BBC, the two-time Grammy award-winner shared her personal experiences, revealing that there were significant hurdles she faced when starting her career. “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 wasn't a lot of options,” she explained.

Despite Afropop’s meteoric rise in global popularity over the past decade, the genre remains heavily male-dominated, exemplified by the music industry's “Big Three” — Burna Boy, Davido, and Wizkid. Female artists like Tiwa Savage and Yemi Alade have also voiced frustrations concerning the barriers imposed by their gender.

Earlier this year, Tems responded to body-shaming comments on social media, stating, “It's just a body, I will add and lose weight... The more you don't like my body the better for me actually.” She emphasized her desire to change the perception of women in the music industry, launching The Leading Vibe Initiative to offer newfound opportunities for emerging female musicians across Africa.

Kicking off in her home city of Lagos, the initiative welcomed vocalists, producers, and songwriters to partake in workshops and discussions aimed at skill development and networking. Tems shared vital advice for young women aspiring to thrive in the industry, emphasizing the importance of clarity regarding personal aspirations, boundaries, and authenticity.

With hits like "Love Me Jeje" and "Free Mind" under her belt, Tems has skyrocketed to success, earning over 17 million monthly Spotify listeners and sharing the stage with superstars like Beyoncé and Rihanna. Next month, she will support Coldplay during their Wembley Stadium performances.

Beyond her musical pursuits, Tems has also made her mark in professional sports as a part-owner of the US football team, San Diego FC. “I never imagined myself owning or being in an ownership of any football team,” she acknowledged, attributing her interest in football to her brother.

Her foray into team ownership, along with her determination to remain true to her artistic vision, inspires her to encourage others. “I don't see myself as just a singer, just a musician, just an artist. I'm much more than that,” Tems summarized, underscoring her mission to pave the way for women in the entertainment industry.