Nigerian Grammy winner Temilade Openiyi, famously known as Tems, recently shared the reason behind her decision to leave a career in digital marketing to follow her passion for music. She revealed that while the decision was tough, she believed it was guided by divine purpose.
The ‘Love Me Jeje’ singer explained in a Billboard interview that digital marketing never felt like her true calling. Tems said she relied on her faith to take the leap, trusting that it was the right path for her future.
Tems disclosed that she quit her digital marketing job in January 2018 and spent six months preparing for her music career. She released her debut single, ‘Mr Rabel,’ later that year. Reflecting on the transition, she said, “It felt like I had no choice. It was now or never. I knew I had to make a decision, even though it felt like it could change everything about my life.”
Her music career took off in 2020 when she collaborated with Wizkid on the hit song ‘Essence.’ The track became a global sensation, peaking at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
In 2022, Tems became the first African artist to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart through her feature on Future’s song ‘Wait 4 U,’ alongside Drake. This achievement earned her a Grammy for Best Melodic Rap Performance. She later won another Grammy for Best African Music Performance in 2025 with her track ‘Love Me Jeje.’
