Grammy-winning singer Tems has encouraged people to look beyond stereotypes and explore the rich cultures of Africa, particularly in Nigeria and Ghana. During a brief interview at the Met Gala, Tems urged critics to visit these countries to truly understand the African experience. Tems highlights the continent’s beauty through its creativity, traditions, music, and daily life.
She said, “I always encouraged people to go to Lagos and Ghana for vacation. Just go and see for yourself before you make an opinion [about Africa]. See it for yourself and see how you feel.
“I think it [the beauty of Africa] is in the creativity, the daily efforts, the looks, the songs, the traditions, and the cultures.”
She’s also passionate about showcasing the diversity of African music, which goes beyond Afrobeats to include genres like Amapiano, Afrosoul, R&B, and Afro Jazz.
“We [Africans] can go further in every single aspect of sound. We are not just Afrobeats. There is Amapiano, Afrosoul, R&B, and Afro Jazz. There are so many genres in African music that people are not all the way tapped into yet,” the singer said.