Nigerian musician, Temilade Openiyi, better known by her stage name Tems, has called on the world to look past misconceptions and learn more about African traditions, beginning with Ghana and Nigeria.
In an interview with Fashion Bomb Daily at the 2025 Met Gala, which was held on May 5, the “Love Me Jeje” hitmaker talked about the diversity and beauty of African music and culture.
Tems clarified that African music goes far beyond the global perception of just Afrobeats.
“I feel like we can go further in every single aspect of sound. We’re not just like Afrobeats, there’s Amapiano, there’s Afrosoul, there’s R&B, there’s Afro Jazz, there’s so many things about, so many genres in music in Africa that I feel like people are not all the way tapped into yet,” she said.
Tems emphasized the value of cultural immersion aside music.
She urged people, particularly those living outside, to take vacations in Ghana and Nigeria in order to gain a better knowledge of what life in Africa is really like to clear any misconception in their minds.
“So, I always encourage people to go to Lagos, Ghana, and just like do a vacation, you know, not even for any like agenda, just go see for yourself and experience before you make an opinion or before you have a conclusion in your mind, just, you know, see it for yourself and see how you feel,” she stated.
According to Tems, the charm of Ghana and Nigeria lies in the richness of their traditions and the creative energy.
“I think it’s just the creativity, it’s the daily effort, it’s the looks, it’s the s ongs, it’s the traditions, it’s the culture,” she added.
