Tems, the Nigerian singer who won a Grammy for her work on Wizkid’s 2020 single “Essence,” said she spent years avoiding recognition despite her rising fame. On an episode of The Boost Podcast, she said she often denied her identity when fans recognized her in public.
“I would go to the airport and people say, ‘You’re Tems.’ I will be like, ‘No, I’m not Tems,’” she said. “I was so afraid, I wanted to continue my secret life, and I was like, ‘God please, I don’t want to be in the spotlight.’”
Temilade Openiyi, known professionally as Tems, left her job as a digital marketer in 2018 to pursue music full time. That year she released her debut single, “Mr Rebel.” Despite her early success, she said she never wanted the fame that came with it.
She said she kept her identity hidden from fans because she wanted to maintain a private life alongside her career. Only after her profile grew did she begin to accept public attention.
Tems rose to international prominence after featuring on Wizkid’s “Essence,” which won a Grammy and became one of the defining Afrobeats songs of the early 2020s. Yet even as her star ascended, her discomfort with fame persisted.
Her comments reveal a tension between the artist’s desire for success and the personal cost of visibility. Tems’ journey from anonymity to global recognition has been marked by this struggle to balance public life with privacy.
The singer has not disclosed how she eventually reconciled her private self with her public image. But her admission adds nuance to the way fame affects rising African artists, especially those crossing into global markets.
Tems’ experience contrasts with the typical narrative of eager stardom. It points to the personal challenges behind chart-topping hits and streaming numbers. The Grammy-winning singer’s story remains quietly complex.
According to Joy Online.
