Tems Urges Global Audience to Explore Nigeria, Ghana Before Judging Africa

Grammy-winning singer Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has called on the international community to visit African countries like Nigeria and Ghana before forming opinions about the continent.

Speaking in an interview with Fashion Bomb Daily during the 2025 Met Gala in New York, Tems encouraged people to experience the culture and creativity of Africa firsthand rather than relying on stereotypes.

“I always encourage people to go to Lagos and Ghana for vacation. Just go and see for yourself before you make an opinion [about Africa],” she said. “See it for yourself and see how you feel.”

The Nigerian star highlighted Africa’s richness in culture, music, fashion, and daily life, stressing that these elements define the continent’s true beauty.

“It’s in the creativity, the daily efforts, the looks, the songs, the traditions and the cultures,” she noted.

Tems also challenged the global tendency to box African music into a single genre. She explained that African artists produce a wide range of styles beyond Afrobeats, including Amapiano, Afrosoul, Afro-Jazz, and R&B.

“We [Africans] can go further in every single aspect of sound. We are not just Afrobeats,” she added.

Tems’ comments add to growing calls for more nuanced appreciation of African identity and artistic expression on the global stage.