Women are less respected in music industry – Tems Alleges

Grammy-winning singer Tems has opened up about the gender-based challenges women face in Nigeria’s music industry, sharing her own struggles to be taken seriously as an artist.

In an interview with the BBC, Tems said women are often disrespected in the industry, making it harder for them to gain recognition and succeed.

To tackle the problem, she launched ‘The Leading Vibe Initiative’, a platform aimed at empowering women by providing easier access to opportunities, wider audiences, and greater success in the music business. The initiative also seeks to boost self-definition and confidence among female artists.

Tems urged aspiring female musicians to set clear personal and professional boundaries, knowing what they are willing—and unwilling—to do for fame. She stressed the importance of staying true to oneself and refusing to compromise values for success.

Tems said, “I just found out that people don’t really respect women a lot in the [music] industry. It was difficult to find people to take me seriously, but it didn’t mean I stopped; I just kept on going. I wanted to redefine the perspective that women have of themselves. As a woman myself, I’m the best person to start something like this, so that’s really the aim.