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Tems Had Only ₦200 When We Met — Manager Muyiwa Awoniyi Opens Up
Grammy Award-winning Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, came from a deeply humble background, with barely ₦200 to her name at a pivotal point in her career.
This was revealed by her longtime manager, Muyiwa Awoniyi, during a recent episode of the Afrobeats Intelligence podcast, where he shared the backstory of their professional relationship and how her character won him over.
Muyiwa, reflecting on their early interactions, said he instantly recognised something exceptional in Tems, not just as an artiste, but as a person.
He explained that despite her financial struggles at the time, she showed uncommon generosity and integrity — qualities that ultimately convinced him to form a long-term partnership with her.
“Back then when I was doing my podcast, she would just be sitting down while me and my cousin are talking,” he recalled.
“Then obviously, she wasn’t financially buoyant in any capacity. When I met Tems, she only had about 200 Naira in her account.
“Then I had a production company. So, if I had money, I would buy food. Another thing that shocked me was that even though she didn’t have money, she will order food for us. She didn’t even have a way of earning.
“So, I just realised that she is different from everyone I have seen in Nigeria.”
Muyiwa further recounted how Tems’ passion and professionalism left a lasting impression on him, especially her readiness to formalise their business arrangement.
According to him, her commitment was so rare that it inspired him to propose starting a company with her instead of just managing her as a client.
“There was something Tems did that made me say, ‘I don’t want to do a managerial contract with you, let’s do a company.’
“When she asked me to be her manager, I agreed and said I would send her a contract to sign. We had already verbally agreed on everything. You know, when you present paperwork for artists to sign, it’s always tricky. But she was chasing me to sign my own part. And I have never experienced that before.
“I was like, ‘You don’t mind signing paperwork? Hold on, let’s not do this. You’re someone I can rock with for life. Let’s start a company.’ Prior to this, Tems and I were friends for about three months and we never spoke about working together.”
Tems has since risen to international stardom, earning global recognition for her powerful vocals and songwriting skills, with features on high-profile projects including collaborations with Wizkid, Drake, and Future. Her journey, as shared by Muyiwa, offers a rare glimpse into the early days of a star whose grit and grace continue to inspire fans worldwide.