I didn’t want to be in the spotlight – Tems

Nigerian Grammy-winning singer Temilade Openiyi, known professionally as Tems, has shared her discomfort with fame in an episode of The Boost Podcast. For an extended period, she deliberately concealed her identity from fans to maintain her "secret life" while still pursuing a music career. Tems expressed her fear of being in the spotlight, stating that she would often deny being Tems when confronted by admirers at airports.

She revealed that she finally started adapting to fame when she could no longer avoid it. Prior to her music career, Tems worked as a digital marketer, but she quit her job in 2018 to focus on her passion. She released her debut single, "Mr Rebel," in the same year and gained significant recognition after featuring on Wizkid's 2020 hit, "Essence."