Muyiwa Awoniyi, the manager of Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has shared an emotional story about the singer’s humble beginnings, revealing that she had just ₦200 in her account when they first met.
Speaking during a recent episode of the Afrobeats Intelligence podcast, Muyiwa recalled how their friendship blossomed into a business partnership that would eventually launch Tems into international stardom. According to him, at the time they met, Tems was struggling financially and lacked any means of income.
“Back then when I was doing my podcast, she would just be sitting down while me and my cousin were talking. Obviously, she wasn’t financially buoyant in any capacity. When I met Tems, she only had about 200 Naira in her account,” he shared.
Muyiwa noted that despite her financial difficulties, Tems showed a rare level of generosity and integrity. He said she would still offer to buy food for others even when she had nothing for herself, something that deeply impressed him.
“If I had money, I would buy food. But another thing that shocked me was that even though she didn’t have money, she would 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 explained.
He also described how Tems’ professional attitude stood out when she proposed that he officially become her manager. Instead of hesitating to sign documents, Tems took the initiative to ensure the partnership was formalized.
“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,” Muyiwa said.
He continued, “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.’”
According to him, they had known each other for three months before they ever talked about working together. Their bond was built on mutual respect and understanding, laying the groundwork for what would become one of the most successful collaborations in Afrobeats today.
Today, Tems is a global star, praised not only for her voice and music but also for her humility and strong work ethic. Muyiwa’s story serves as a reminder of her inspiring journey from humble beginnings to worldwide acclaim.
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