The Untamed Brilliance of Tems

Tems

Temilade Openiyi, known as Tems at her ‘Born In The Wild’ tour, Paris, 2024. TEMS BABY / INSTAGRAM.

the ministry of ARTS / MUSIC DEPT.

The Untamed Brilliance of Tems

Born in the Wild is the latest chapter in Tems extraordinary story of resilience, growth and creative freedom—a testament to the undeniable force of her artistry.
Tems

Temilade Openiyi, known as Tems at her ‘Born In The Wild’ tour, Paris, 2024. TEMS BABY / INSTAGRAM.

the ministry of ARTS / MUSIC DEPT.

The Untamed Brilliance of Tems

Born in the Wild is the latest chapter in Tems extraordinary story of resilience, growth and creative freedom—a testament to the undeniable force of her artistry.

I first heard Tems sing at an open mic event in 2017. It was the 90s Baby Show hosted by Idris King, where aspiring singers and rappers from the vibrant Lagos underground music scene would perform. In a dimly lit cafe in Lagos Island, in front of a crowd of 15-20 people, Tems performed an early rendition of ‘Try Me’. When the single was officially released nearly two years later, in August 2019, it became an instant hit and established her as an artiste to watch. Even back then, green and unseasoned as she was, it was clear that there was something special about Temilade Openiyi. She was an immediate crowd favourite, captivating everyone with her sonorous vocals and measured presence. By the time she was done, we were screaming for an encore. 

BALM FOR BROKEN EARS

Another two years would pass before I had the opportunity to see Tems perform live again. This time it was at Lady Donli’s ‘Enjoy Your Life’ concert, hosted at the African Artists Foundation in Lagos in December 2019. Tems’s unexpected appearance on stage to perform ‘Good Time’ with Donli, was greeted by rapturous cheers and an enthusiastic applause. At this point, she had a few successful singles and several acclaimed features under her belt. She was undoubtedly a rising star, but despite her undeniable talent, it was difficult to predict just how far and fast her fame would grow within barely one year. 

On 25 September 2020, Tems released her debut EP, For Broken Ears, to much critical acclaim. The EP established Tems not only as an accomplished vocalist but also as a talented songwriter. For Broken Ears also earned Tems her first solo appearance on Billboard Hot 100 and made her into a household name in the Nigerian music industry. Yet, Tems would not know true global superstardom until after the release of ‘Essence’ from Wizkid’s 2020 album, Made in Lagos. ‘Essence’, in my opinion, is the greatest crossover single in contemporary Afrobeats history. It is a testament to the song’s universal cultural impact that ‘Essence’ went on to dominate airwaves and award shows consistently over two years after its initial release. ‘Essence’ featured in Barack Obama’s playlist of his favourite songs of 2020. It was Rolling Stone’s best song of 2021, and it won the BET award for best collaboration in 2022. ‘Essence’ was also nominated by the Recording Academy in 2022 for the Best Global Music Performance.

Tems followed up the success of ‘Essence’ with other important features with local and international artistes. On the 15th of September 2021, shortly after signing with RCA Records (an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment), Tems released her second EP, If Orange Was a Place. The EP proved that Tems was no flash in the pan, as she leaned into and perfected her evocative delivery style, paired with her abstract, yet grounded lyrics. On this album, Tems paints powerful emotional scenes with free associative lyrics, compelling the listener to recall, reflect and, most importantly, to let themselves feel.

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GOING AGAINST THE GRAIN

Yet, following the increased demand for Tems at concerts, award shows and other public events, one thing became obvious. Although Tems was an accomplished vocalist, songwriter and producer—an artiste’s artiste through and through—she was no performer, at least not yet. Her performances were often criticized for being monotonous, lacking the zest, energy and crowd engagement that audiences have come to associate with Afrobeats artists. Though the quality of her voice was never in doubt, there appeared to be a clear directive from her team to be more engaging by incorporating dancing into her stage performances. Many fans felt her and initial attempts to dance and sing at the same time came off a bit forced, some even describing it as inauthentic.   
 
In a sense, much of Temss struggle to break into the mainstream Afrobeats scene was a direct consequence of the kind of music she chose to make. Tems has been a maverick from day one and has always fought for the right to establish her own lane in an industry of clones. Though she has numerous ‘danceable’ songs, her brand of Afrobeats is alternative—perhaps better suited to be played at intimate venues rather than to teeming crowds in high-capacity dancehalls. In a 2023 interview with the Beat FM, Tems narrates how, during initial meetings with producers, label executives and other industry stakeholders, they would always try to change her music, looks, and persona to fit what was culturally acceptable for a female Afrobeats artiste. The frustration of not being understood is what led Tems to independently release her first single, the aptly titled ‘Mr. Rebel’. Even today, as an established international artiste, Tems expressed in a 2024 interview with Youtuber and Filmmaker, Korty, an ongoing struggle with the industry’s reception of her work. According to Tems, ‘My music is different, and this is what I fought for.’ While she acknowledges the personal appreciation she receives from Nigerians, she questions whether her music itself is genuinely embraced. Tems’s divergence from the traditional expectations of Nigerian music is both her triumph and her tribulation, and this tension speaks to a broader narrative about the challenges of bridging the gap between personal artistic expression and the expectations local audiences place on Afrobeats artistes. 

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BORN IN THE WILD

I was anxious prior to listening to Tems’s new project; her debut album, Born in the Wild. Many promising Afrobeats artists who achieve international acclaim early often lose their way, as they—in a bid to satisfy local and international tastes—end up losing out on both markets. Yet, from my very first listen, I realized that I needn’t have worried. Though it has become an industry cliché to say that an artiste has established a niche for themselves, this is exactly what Tems has done. In a world of formulaic music driven by heavy marketing and propelled by inscrutable algorithms, Tems is special. She does not sound like anyone else, living or dead. Born in the Wild is experimental and eclectic, yet mature. It is the handiwork of an artiste who, having navigated growing pains necessary for any kind of development, has achieved mastery and is now more self-assured than ever.

After the commercial and critical success of her first two projects, it is perhaps the greatest compliment I can pay this album to acknowledge that Born in the Wild is Tems’s most impressive body of work yet, and by some distance. Across all 18 tracks, Tems shows off the range of her musical influences and the breadth of her artistic dexterity. She blends R&B, pop and hip-hop with Afrobeats, seamlessly creating a rich and diverse soundscape. Her ability to navigate different genres while maintaining a cohesive narrative is a testament to her versatility as an artiste. 

If Tems was truly ‘Born in the Wild’ as the title of the album suggests, then this body of work is a kind of homage to the music and people that helped her survive the wildernesses. The album features samples and interpolations of many popular songs from the contemporary golden age of music. ‘Wickedest’ is a nod to Magic System’s ‘Premier Gaou, a cult classic from the early 2000s that transcended its origins in Côte d’Ivoire to become a global hit. Similarly, on ‘Gangsta’, Tems interpolates melodies and lyrics from Jamaican artiste, Diana King’s 1997 hit single ‘L-L-Lies. ‘Love Me Jeje’, the fifth track and the most popular single from the album prior to its release, is a sample of Nigerian Seyi Sodimu’s 1998 chart topper of the same title. However, just like on the other samples, Tems supplements the original with her unique interpretation. While the original ‘Love Me Jeje’ was a charming and flirtatious declaration of intent aimed at winning the attention and affection of a love interest, Tems’s version is an unabashed declaration of connection, devotion and commitment; a celebration of the kind of gentle and sincere love that is cultivated intentionally. Most importantly, in contrast with her usual resonant and intense delivery style, I was happy to see Tems just having fun on this record. The vocals were interspersed with giggles, laughter and banter.

The rest of the album is equally impressive. The key themes that Tems explores are love, self-discovery, and identity. She also continues the tradition of including interludes where we hear her mother speaking to her, which contribute to the album’s grounded feel. At many points while listening, I found myself sobbing, moved to tears both by the sonic and emotional complexity of the music, but also tears of joy as I reflected on the depth of what Tems has accomplished despite her uncertain beginning. 

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STILL THE LEADING VIBE

With multiple international chart-topping singles, a major motion picture soundtrack and two Grammys under her belt, Tems has certainly come a long way from open mics in dimly lit Lagos cafés. On her new album, Born in the Wild, Tems reminds us that she has arrived exactly where her talent demands she be. Even her stage performances are now exponentially more assured as she has grown at ease with performing to swarming crowds. Tems has come of age, has come into her own, and has done all this completely on her own terms. In years to come, we will realize just how special this album was, and how many possibilities Tems has opened up for what it means to be an Afrobeats musician. She has constantly gone against the grain, and with this album, she proves that it is possible to find mainstream success while establishing yourself in your own lane. True to her name, Temilade; the crown has come home, and it is a pleasure to be a witness to her coronation 

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