Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, known globally as Tems, has shared how she moved from a career in digital marketing to becoming an award-winning music star.
She revealed that the switch was not a simple one, but she eventually made the bold move when she felt she could no longer continue working in an office.
The decision to leave her job came in 2018.
According to Tems, she felt deeply that her job in digital marketing was not meant for her.
Although she was unsure at first, she believed strongly that her journey would be guided and that music was where she truly belonged.
After quitting, she spent several months preparing before releasing her debut single titled “Mr Rebel.”
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That song helped her begin her rise in the music industry.
Tems started gaining wide attention after she featured on Wizkid’s 2020 global track “Essence,” which became a hit in many countries and reached number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Her success grew even more in 2022 when she appeared on Future’s song “Wait 4 U” alongside Drake.
That song entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number one, making her the first African artist to achieve such a debut.
The track later earned a Grammy award for Best Melodic Rap Performance.
Her growth in the music industry continued in 2025 when she won another Grammy for her song “Love Me Jeje.”
The award was in the category of Best African Music Performance.
