Famous Nigerian singer, Temilade Openiyi, who is widely known as Tems, has shared the challenges she faced early in her career, revealing that she was once booed off the stage during a school performance.
Speaking in an interview with Big Boy TV, the Crazy Tings crooner shared that she wasn’t only booed but was also harassed with plastic bottles.
“I remember one time I was going to perform at my school as an up-and-coming singer and I thought I was going to receiving a standing ovation.
“But I got booed. They even threw plastic bottles at me,” she recalled.
Tems explained that despite the embarrassing incident and other such rejections, she remained determined to pursue a career in music.
She admitted that some of the initial rejections she faced could be due to her conviction to stick to her originality instead of doing covers or familiar sounds like most of her peers.
The Grammy-winning singer said looking back now, she is glad that she didn’t compromise her style despite the initial pressures.
🍄 Tems: “They booed me and threw bottles at me.”
Tems reflects on her music journey, noting it wasn’t always rosy, but she didn’t give up.
Years later down the line, she’s a global star. pic.twitter.com/T89ACUoXgf
— Rocboy 💿 (@TOMFORDTITAN) February 23, 2026
