The Afropop Nigerian star says that “women are not respected in the industry”

The Nigerian star of the Afropop TEMS told the BBC that “people do not really respect women” in its industry.

The double winner of a Grammy Award told the BBC that at the start of her career, she had struggled to be taken seriously.

“I realized that there was always a cost. There is always a price that you pay. And many of these prices that I was not willing to pay and there were not many options,” said time.

Afropop has gained immense world popularity over the past decade, but despite this growth, it remains notoriously dominated by men.

The so -called “Big Three” of the industry – Burna Boy, Davido and Wizkid – are all men – while their female counterparts, such as Tiwa Savage and Yemi Alade, spoke of the barriers they face because of their gender.

Earlier this year, Tems struck negative comments on his body, which were made online after a video of his performance was published on X.

She wrote on the social media platform: “It’s just a body, I will add and lose weight. I have never hidden my body, I simply did not feel the need to prove or refute anyone. The more you like my body, the better for me.”

Tems told the BBC that she wanted to “change the way women saw themselves in music” and hopes to achieve it thanks to her new platform, the main initiative of the atmosphere.

The project aims to offer opportunities to young women in African music industries.

“I promised myself that if I arrive at a place where I can do more, I will do this initiative for women like me and maybe women will access an audience and a wider success more easily,” said time.

The initiative began on Friday in the hometown of Tems, Lagos. Singers, songwriters and producers were invited to a series of workshops, masterclasses and round tables, all in order to develop skills and connections.

Asked on what advice she would give young women wishing to crack the industry, she said: “I think it is important to have an idea of what you want for yourself, what is your brand, what is your border.

“What are the things you would not do for glory and the things you would do?”

TEMS, which has marked success with Love Me Jeje and Free Mind, said that anyone trying to enter the industry must be passionate about their profession.

“It is not everyone who sings who loves music. If I was not famous, I would always make music. I would be in a kind of jazz club … at random on Friday evening,” she said.

But it is far from the reality of Tems. Five years after her first EP, she collaborated with people like Beyoncé and Rihanna, accumulated more than 17m listeners per month on Spotify and titled international festivals.

And next month, she is supporting the British group Coldplay during their closed coupes closed in concerts at the British stadium in Wembley.

Tems puts its success to an “authentic” and “daring”.

“Even when people tell you to change your sound, change your style, you look at them and you say:” No “. If it meant that I am not signed, I was not going to be signed. I went to some places that did not signed me and I agreed with that,” she said.

Music is not the only passion for time – she is a passionate football fan and has recently become the owner of the American football club San Diego FC.

“I never imagined myself having or being owned by a football team,” she said, adding that her brother initially put it in sport.

TEMS joined the property of San Diego with Pave Investments, a private West African investment company which has also helped collect funds for the African basketball league linked to the NBA.

The involvement of Tems with San Diego gives him the hope that “people can be daring enough to try things that no one has ever thought was possible”.

She said: “I don’t consider myself a singer, just a musician, just an artist. I’m much more than that.”