Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, better known as Tems, has opened up about how she struggled to adjust to the attention that came with her rise to fame.
The singer shared her experience while appearing on an episode of The Boost Podcast, where she recalled feeling uncomfortable with being recognised in public during the early stages of her music career.
Tems revealed that although she was determined to succeed as a musician, she initially wanted to keep her identity private and enjoy a normal life away from the public eye.
She said she would sometimes deny being Tems when fans approached her, particularly at airports and other public places.
According to the singer, she was worried that becoming famous would mean losing the privacy and freedom she enjoyed before her music career gained widespread attention.
However, as her profile continued to grow and more people began recognising her, Tems said she had no choice but to gradually adapt to life in the spotlight.
Reflecting on those early experiences, she said: “I would go to the airport and people say, ‘You’re Tems.’ I will be like, ‘No, I’m not Tems.’ I was so afraid, I wanted to continue my secret life, and I was like, ‘God please, I don’t want to be in the spotlight.”