‘I didn’t want to be in the spotlight’ — Tems opens up on fear of fame

Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has opened up about her fear of fame, revealing that she was uncomfortable with being in the spotlight despite wanting a successful music career.

Speaking on an episode of The Boost Podcast, the singer said she spent a period hiding her identity from fans because she wanted to maintain a private life.

Tems explained that she was initially frightened by the attention that came with her growing popularity and wanted to continue living what she described as her “secret life.”

“I would go to the airport and people say, ‘You’re Tems.’ I will be like, ‘No, I’m not Tems.’ I was so afraid, I wanted to continue my secret life, and I was like, ‘God please, I don’t want to be in the spotlight,’” she said.

According to the singer, she eventually began adjusting to fame when it became increasingly difficult to conceal her identity from the public.

Tems left her job as a digital marketer in 2018 to pursue music professionally and released her debut single, Mr Rebel, that same year.

She gained wider recognition after featuring on Wizkid’s 2020 hit single, Essence, which became an international success and further increased her visibility.

Since then, Tems has established herself as one of Nigeria’s internationally recognised music acts, winning a Grammy Award and earning global recognition for her music.