- Asa Asika, a talent manager, highlights Tems as a standout Nigerian artist in the US music market.
- Tems’ music consistently performs well in the US, independent of the Nigerian music scene’s dynamics.
- Asika emphasizes her unique ability to gain traction on US radio.
Talent manager Asa Asika has singled out Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Tems as one of the few Nigerian artists whose music continues to perform strongly in the United States regardless of what is happening in Nigeria.
Speaking during a recent discussion about the global reach of Nigerian music, Asika noted that Tems stands out for her ability to gain traction on US radio without relying heavily on developments in the Nigerian music scene.
He, however, argued that Tems should not be categorised strictly as an Afrobeats artiste, describing her sound as firmly rooted in R&B.
Asa Asika said:
“The only artist who their music is popping off here first or doing well on radio in the US and it doesn’t matter what’s happening in Nigeria is probably Tems, but Tems isn’t an Afrobeats artist. She’s a full fledged R&B artist.”
His comments have sparked discussions about Tems’ musical identity and the extent to which her sound fits within the broader Afrobeats genre.
See post below:
Read some comments below:
@Miguel:”I thought Burna Boy music is doing well in US because he has most of his streams there. But I don tell Una to add Tems to big 3 and remove one artist there Una no gree”
@大萨米:”So because her sound crosses over smoothly to the US, she suddenly stops being Afrobeats? Make it make sense”
@Leuna:”If Tems was born and raised in USA and makes exactly de same music she’s making no one would call her Afrobeat artist.Dey try to put u in one box cos U’re from Africa no matter ur creativity and the kind of music you make.Don’t let ur hate for Davido blind u from de point”
@F I R S T U S:”Tems is global. Literally foreigners know her when they ask them who sang these songs, Burna comes close. Not because you know your “legend” in Nigeria and they shut down shows in yankee doesn’t mean people know them outside. Those crowds you see in their shows are Africans who brought in their oyibo friends to attend the concerts”
@UPCARE 🇳🇬🇹🇬🇺🇸:”A lot of Nigerian love music 🎶 but they don’t really know music. It’s one thing to love something but how much do you know about it. Tems is doing really well. No competition.”
@Principal⭐️:”Tems’ sound may have roots in Afrobeats, but her global reach clearly transcends one genre. Her music connects with audiences far beyond Nigeria’s music scene.”
@DAMIAN 💫:”If I talk am now FC fan’s go dey attack me,nah only tems and Davido dem Sabi for abroad pass sepene”
