Muyiwa Awoniyi, manager to Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has revealed that the superstar’s journey began with incredible financial hardship. In a recent episode of the Afrobeats Intelligence podcast, Awoniyi shared that Tems had just N200 in her bank account when they first met.
Awoniyi recounted that despite her lack of funds, Tems demonstrated remarkable determination and integrity. He explained that when Tems asked him to become her manager, she was eager to formalize their agreement, even chasing him to sign the paperwork a rare attitude among artists.
“When I met Tems, she only had like 200 Naira in her account. And then I had a production company. 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 realized that she is different from everyone I have seen in Nigeria,” Awoniyi said.
He added that their professional relationship started after months of friendship, during which Tems never once discussed business or her struggles. Her humility and selflessness, even in tough times, convinced Awoniyi that she was someone he could trust and build a company with, rather than just a typical manager-artist contract.
Tems’ story, from having only N200 to becoming an international music sensation, continues to inspire many fans and aspiring artists across Nigeria and beyond.
