Grammy-winning Nigerian music sensation, Temilade Openiyi, fondly known as Tems, has opined that women are not well respected in the Nigerian music industry.
She explained that at the beginning of her career, she struggled to be taken seriously because of her gender.
“People don’t really respect women in the [music] industry,” Tems stated in a recent interview with BBC.
The “Crazy Things” crooner said she wants “to change the way women see themselves in music”, and hopes to achieve this through her new platform, The Leading Vibe Initiative.
Tems further explained that the initiative is aimed at giving women easier access to platforms and “a wider audience and success.”
She advised aspiring female musicians to have an idea of what they want for themselves, their brands, and their boundaries: “What are the things that you wouldn’t do for fame and the things that you would do?”
Several other female Nigerian artists such as Tiwa Savage and Yemi Alade have also spoken out about the barriers they face because of their gender.