Nigerian singer and Grammy-nominated artist Tems has once again proven she’s as relatable as she is talented. In a recent interactive Q&A session with fans on X (formerly Twitter), the ‘Burning’ hitmaker opened up about the very practical backup plans she had in place before music took over her life.
When a fan asked,
“If music didn’t work, what else do you think you would be doing today?
”Tems didn’t hesitate:
“I might have been an accountant or a mathematics teacher.”
The confession instantly went viral, with thousands of fans reacting to the idea of the soulful voice behind global hits like ‘Essence’ and ‘Love Me JeJe’ standing in front of a classroom explaining quadratic equations or balancing financial statements.
From Digital Marketing to Global Stardom
Long before the world knew her name, Temilade Openiyi was just another young professional grinding in Lagos. After studying economics at university in South Africa, she returned to Nigeria and worked as a digital marketer — a stable 9-to-5 job that paid the bills but never truly fed her soul.In January 2018, she made the bold decision to quit her job and pursue music full-time. It was a risky move, especially in a country where many talented artists struggle for years without a breakthrough.Just seven months later, in July 2018, she released her debut single ‘Mr Rebel’ — a moody, atmospheric track that immediately caught the attention of Nigeria’s underground music scene. The song showcased her distinctive alto voice and introspective songwriting, setting her apart from the typical Afrobeats sound of the time.
The Breakthrough That Changed Everything
Tems’ big moment came in 2020 when Wizkid invited her to feature on ‘Essence’, a track from his critically acclaimed album Made in Lagos. The original version was already a hit across Africa, but when Justin Bieber jumped on the remix in 2021, the song exploded globally — peaking at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning the title of the first Nigerian song to crack the top 10.Suddenly, Tems was no longer just a rising artist — she was a global phenomenon. ‘Essence’ has since been certified multi-platinum, won multiple awards, and is widely regarded as one of the songs that ushered Afrobeats into the mainstream consciousness in the United States and beyond.Since then, she has collaborated with Drake (‘Fountains’), Future (‘Wait For U’), and Beyoncé (on the Renaissance album), won a Grammy, earned an Oscar nomination for co-writing ‘Lift Me Up’ from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and headlined sold-out shows across the world.
A Reminder That Dreams Are Worth the Risk
Tems’ story is a powerful reminder that some of the biggest voices in music once had very ordinary backup plans. While many artists joke about “what if” scenarios, Tems’ revelation felt especially authentic — rooted in her academic background in economics and her clear love for logic and structure.
As one fan commented:
“Imagine your maths teacher dropping ‘Try Me’ in the middle of class to explain pressure
Another wrote:
“This is why I love Tems. She’s a superstar but still thinks like a normal Nigerian babe. Accountant or teacher? Very realistic options!”
Today, as she prepares for the release of her highly anticipated second album, Tems continues to prove that leaving the safety of a regular job was the best decision she ever made.
From digital marketer to global icon — and thankfully, we’ll never have to find out how deadly her maths lessons would have been.
What do you think — would Tems have been a strict teacher or the cool one who lets you use your phone in class? Drop your thoughts below!
