Grammy-winning singer Tems has opened up about the gender-based challenges women face in Nigeria’s music industry, sharing her own struggles to be taken seriously as an artist.
In an interview with the BBC, Tems said women are often disrespected in the industry, making it harder for them to gain recognition and succeed.
To tackle the problem, she launched ‘The Leading Vibe Initiative’, a platform aimed at empowering women by providing easier access to opportunities, wider audiences, and greater success in the music business. The initiative also seeks to boost self-definition and confidence among female artists.
Tems urged aspiring female musicians to set clear personal and professional boundaries, knowing what they are willing—and unwilling—to do for fame. She stressed the importance of staying true to oneself and refusing to compromise values for success.
Tems said, “I just found out that people don’t really respect women a lot in the [music] industry. It was difficult to find people to take me seriously, but it didn’t mean I stopped; I just kept on going. I wanted to redefine the perspective that women have of themselves. As a woman myself, I’m the best person to start something like this, so that’s really the aim.
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“It is to change the way women see themselves in music. For me, it is not just artists; it is also producers, audio engineers, instrumentalists, and managers interested in managing other women. When people tell you to change your style and sound, you look at them and say so.
“If it means me not being signed, I’m okay with that. I went to a couple of places that didn’t sign me, and I was okay with that. Like any other football fan, I never imagined myself being in ownership of any football team, but I think it is also a space where women are underrepresented.
“I was fortunate enough to get that opportunity brought to me, and I jumped on it because I feel like women don’t see themselves in that space, and I needed it to be known that women can be in any space that they want.”
In an interview with the BBC, Tems said women are often disrespected in the industry, making it harder for them to gain recognition and succeed.
To tackle the problem, she launched ‘The Leading Vibe Initiative’, a platform aimed at empowering women by providing easier access to opportunities, wider audiences, and greater success in the music business. The initiative also seeks to boost self-definition and confidence among female artists.
Tems urged aspiring female musicians to set clear personal and professional boundaries, knowing what they are willing—and unwilling—to do for fame. She stressed the importance of staying true to oneself and refusing to compromise values for success.
Tems said, “I just found out that people don’t really respect women a lot in the [music] industry. It was difficult to find people to take me seriously, but it didn’t mean I stopped; I just kept on going. I wanted to redefine the perspective that women have of themselves. As a woman myself, I’m the best person to start something like this, so that’s really the aim.
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“It is to change the way women see themselves in music. For me, it is not just artists; it is also producers, audio engineers, instrumentalists, and managers interested in managing other women. When people tell you to change your style and sound, you look at them and say so.
“If it means me not being signed, I’m okay with that. I went to a couple of places that didn’t sign me, and I was okay with that. Like any other football fan, I never imagined myself being in ownership of any football team, but I think it is also a space where women are underrepresented.
“I was fortunate enough to get that opportunity brought to me, and I jumped on it because I feel like women don’t see themselves in that space, and I needed it to be known that women can be in any space that they want.”
