According to Muyiwa Awoniyi, Temilade Openiyi, better known as Tems, was not in a very good financial position when they initially met. Temilade is a Grammy-winning Nigerian musician.
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During their initial meeting, Awoniyi recalled that the singer had just N200 in her bank account, as featured on a recent episode of the Afrobeats Intelligence podcast.
He elaborated on how he agreed to collaborate with Tems despite her financial situation because of her tenacity and commitment.
He explained that he was hesitant to enter into a management contract with Tems and instead proposed starting a business together.
I agreed and told her I would have her sign a contract when she wanted me to be her manager. Everything was already agreed upon verbally. It is usually a bit of a challenge to get artists to sign documents. To sign my own part, though, she was pursuing me.
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Plus, that has never happened to me before. I asked, “Would you be okay with signing this paperwork?” Please, let’s not go with this. I can rock out with you forever. We should launch a business.
During our three months of friendship, Tems and I never once broached the subject of us maybe working together. She used to sit quietly by my side as my cousin and I would record our podcasts back when I was younger.
Needless to say, she wasn’t exactly flush with cash. There was just about 200 Naira in Tems’s account when we first met. My producing company came next.
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Accordingly, I would purchase food if I were in a financial position to do so. 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.”