Behind every superstar is a story of grit, perseverance, and the people who saw the light before the world did. For Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, her path to global acclaim wasn’t paved with riches or industry privilege, it began with just ₦200 in her account and a heart full of determination.
Tems’ longtime manager and close associate, Muyiwa Awoniyi, recently opened up about the singer’s early days during a candid conversation on the Afrobeats Intelligence podcast. In the interview, Awoniyi revealed just how dire Tems’ financial situation was when they first met but also how her vision, work ethic, and integrity set her apart from the beginning.
“When I met Tems, she only had like 200 Naira in her account,” Awoniyi shared. “Then I had a production company. So, if I had money, I would buy food. Another thing that shocked me was that even though she didn’t have money, she would order food for us. She didn’t even have a way of earning. So, I just realised that she is different from everyone I have seen in Nigeria.”
Their friendship blossomed before any talks of business. According to Awoniyi, they were friends for about three months before even discussing the possibility of working together. During this time, Tems would sit in on podcast recordings without fanfare, quietly absorbing the creative energy around her.
But it wasn’t just her passion that caught Awoniyi’s attention, it was her unusual eagerness to do things the right way.
“There was something Tems did that made me say, ‘I don’t want to do a managerial contract with you, let’s do a company,’” he said. “When she asked me to be her manager, I agreed and said I would send her a contract to sign. We had already verbally agreed on everything. You know when you present paperwork for artists to sign, it’s always tricky. But she was chasing me to sign my own part. And I have never experienced that before.”
That level of sincerity and commitment convinced Awoniyi that Tems was more than just another talented voice in the crowd. It was a defining moment that laid the foundation for what would become a powerhouse creative partnership. Instead of signing a typical manager-artiste contract, they founded a company together, a decision that has clearly paid off in gold.
Today, Tems stands as one of Nigeria’s most decorated international music exports, with multiple Grammy nominations and 2 Grammy wins, global collaborations with the likes of Wizkid, Beyoncé, and Drake, and a loyal fanbase that stretches across continents.
But her journey serves as a powerful reminder that even from the humblest of beginnings with nothing but ₦200 and a dream, greatness can be born.
