Grammy-winning Afropop star Tems: 'Women are not respected in the industry'

Tems is a well-known Afropop singer from Nigeria who has won two Grammy awards. She recently spoke to the BBC about the challenges women face in the music industry. Tems said, 'People don't really respect women' in her field, and when she first started, she struggled to be taken seriously. She explained, 'There's always a cost. There's always a price that you pay. And a lot of those prices I wasn't willing to pay and there wasn't a lot of options. '

Afropop music has become extremely popular worldwide over the last decade, but the industry is still dominated by men. The most famous Afropop stars, known as the 'Big Three' – Burna Boy, Davido, and Wizkid – are all male. Female artists like Tems have spoken out about the difficulties they face because of their gender. Earlier this year, Tems received negative comments about her body after a video of her performing was posted online. She responded on social media, saying, 'It's just a body, I will add and lose weight. I never once hid my body, I just didn't feel the need to prove or disprove anyone. The more you don't like my body the better for me actually. '

Tems is determined to change how women see themselves in music. She has launched a project called The Leading Vibe Initiative, which aims to give young women across Africa more opportunities in the music industry. Tems said, 'I promised myself that if I get to a place where I can do more, I will make this initiative for women like me and maybe make it easier for women to access platforms and access a wider audience and success. ' The initiative started in Lagos, Nigeria, Tems' hometown, and brought together young vocalists, producers, and songwriters for workshops, masterclasses, and panel discussions to help them develop their skills and build connections.

When asked what advice she would give to young women hoping to succeed in music, Tems said, 'I think it's important to have an idea of what you want for yourself, what your brand is, what's your boundary. What are the things that you wouldn't do for fame and the things that you would do? ' Tems has worked with famous artists like Beyoncé and Rihanna, and she believes that true passion is necessary for success. 'It's not everybody that sings that loves music. If I wasn't famous, I would still be doing music. I would be in some kind of jazz club... randomly on a Friday night,' she said.

Tems' career has grown rapidly since her debut EP five years ago. She now has over 17 million monthly listeners on Spotify and has headlined international festivals. Next month, she will be supporting the British band Coldplay during their sold-out shows at Wembley Stadium in the UK. Tems is also a part-owner of the US football club San Diego FC, which she joined with Pave Investments, a West African private investment firm. She said, 'I never imagined myself owning or being in an ownership of any football team,' and credited her brother for getting her interested in the sport.

Tems believes in being authentic and bold. She said, 'Even when people tell you to change your sound, change your style, you look at them and you say: 'No'. If it meant me not being signed, I was okay not being signed. I went to a couple of places that didn't sign me and I was okay with that. ' Tems sees herself as more than just a singer or musician. She wants to inspire others to be brave and try things that seem impossible. Her story shows that with determination and self-belief, women can overcome barriers and achieve great success in the music industry.