‘I was always in my world’, Tems speaks on being bullied because of her voice

Grammy award-winning Nigerian singer, Temilade Openiyi, professionally known as Tems, has shared some of the ordeals she went through while growing up, detailing how she was bullied because of the tone of her voice.

Speaking in an interview with The Cut, the ‘Essence’ crooner revealed that she did not talk until she was three. She admitted that she grew up feeling self-conscious since her voice didn’t sound like that of other girls she grew up with.

“I was bullied to the point of tears and was a target of ridicule. This led to the belief that I sounded like a boy, or a frog, with the impression that my voice was ugly.

“I was always in my little world. When I did make friends, I would try to make them sing my songs, and other girls had these sweet, high voices and my voice had a bass,” she said.

Recall that the songstress had previously stated that she started making music because she doesn’t have friends. She rose to international prominence in 2020 after collaborating with Wizkid on the song ‘Essence’.

She has subsequently made a reputation for herself in the Nigerian music industry, receiving numerous prizes and recognition.

In February 2023, the music diva received her first Grammy award. Tems won the ‘Best Melodic Rap Performance’ award for her role in Future’s 2022 hit song ‘Wait for U’, which features Drake.