‘I didn’t feel safe, I didn’t feel seen’: Why Nigerian star Tems is clearing a path for African women in music

Nigerian singer-songwriter Tems performs on stage at the Roskilde music Festival on July 6, 2024 in Roskilde, Denmark. Ritzau Scanpix/AFP Getty Images

From Lagos to the Grammys, Nigerian singer-songwriter Tems has conquered the global stage without compromising who she is. “Authenticity is everything to me,” she says. “That’s the one thing I cannot compromise on because that’s all I have — who I really am.”

When Tems stepped on stage at New York’s MetLife Stadium for the FIFA Club World Cup halftime show in July, the world was watching. The 30-year-old admits performing for millions of global viewers was nerve-wracking. Still, she reflects on the moment with gratitude. “It was an honor to just be there,” she says.

For some, her performance was their first introduction to the soulful p