A Voice Unlike Any Other
There are voices you hear and immediately forget, and then there are voices that lodge themselves somewhere deep in your chest and refuse to leave. Tems — born Temilade Openiyi in Lagos, Nigeria — belongs firmly in the second category. Her low, smoky alto carries a weight and texture that feels both ancient and entirely modern, drawing equally from gospel, soul, R&B, and the rhythmic DNA of West Africa.
Where She Came From
Tems didn't arrive overnight. She spent years writing and recording in relative obscurity, uploading music online and performing small gigs in Lagos before catching the attention of a wider audience. Her early singles were self-produced and self-released — acts of pure artistic will rather than industry strategy.
Her 2020 debut EP For Broken Ears announced her fully: a collection of songs that blended Afropop warmth with introspective, almost melancholic lyrics about love, self-worth, and resilience. It circulated heavily online, passed along by listeners who felt like they'd discovered something rare — because they had.
The Collaboration That Changed Everything
When Wizkid featured Tems on "Essence" in 2020, the song didn't just go viral — it became a cultural moment. The track, built on a gentle Afrobeats groove, showcased something unusual: two artists who sounded like equals rather than a headliner and a feature. Tems held the song with a confidence that made global listeners stop and ask, who is that?
A remix featuring Justin Bieber followed, and "Essence" went on to achieve mainstream chart success across multiple continents — a genuinely rare achievement for a song rooted in Afrobeats.
Her Sound: Hard to Label, Easy to Feel
Tems resists easy categorisation, which is part of what makes her interesting. Her music draws on:
- Afrobeats and Afropop — the rhythmic foundation of her sound
- Soul and R&B — emotionally driven songwriting and vocal delivery
- Alt-R&B — production choices that lean experimental and textural
- Gospel — an underlying spiritual warmth that elevates even secular songs
The result is music that feels simultaneously intimate and expansive — songs that work as late-night headphone listens and as festival anthems.
Awards, Recognition, and What They Mean
Tems has received Grammy recognition, BET Awards, and widespread critical acclaim. But what's more meaningful than the awards is the shift she represents: a growing global recognition that the most exciting music in the world is coming from Africa, and that it doesn't need to compromise its identity to reach the world.
Why She Matters Beyond the Music
Tems has spoken openly about the challenges of being a woman in the Nigerian music industry, about mental health, and about the importance of staying true to your artistic vision in the face of commercial pressure. She is, by most accounts, exactly what she presents herself to be: someone who makes the music she believes in and lets the audience find its way to her.
In an industry built on trend-chasing, that kind of artistic integrity is worth paying attention to.
Where to Start Listening
- For Broken Ears (EP, 2020) — the foundation
- "Essence" with Wizkid — the breakthrough
- If Orange Was a Place (EP, 2021) — the refinement
- Born in the Wild (Album, 2024) — the full arrival