Muyiwa Awoniyi, the manager of Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has opened up about the artist’s remarkable journey from near-poverty to global stardom.
Speaking during a recent episode of the Afrobeats Intelligence podcast, Muyiwa recounted how their friendship and eventual business partnership began at a time when Tems was facing serious financial struggles. According to him, when they first met, the singer had just ₦200 in her bank account.
“Back then when I was doing my podcast, she would just be there while my cousin and I were recording,” Muyiwa said. “She wasn’t financially buoyant in any capacity. In fact, she had about 200 Naira in her account.”
Despite her situation, Tems’ generous spirit left a lasting impression on him. “If I had money, I’d buy food for everyone, but what really shocked me was that even when she had nothing, she would still order food for us. She had no way of earning at the time. That made me realise she was different from anyone I’d met in Nigeria,” he added.
Muyiwa Awoniyi went on to share how Tems’ professionalism and eagerness to formalise their working relationship stood out. When Tems asked him to be her manager, she wasn’t hesitant about signing contracts, a rare trait in the industry.
“We had verbally agreed on everything, but when I told her I’d send a contract, she was actually chasing me to sign my own part,” he recalled. “That was new for me. So I said, ‘Forget a regular deal, let’s start a company together.’”
The pair had been friends for about three months before they ever discussed business, but their mutual respect and shared vision for the future solidified a partnership that has since helped propel Tems to international acclaim as one of the leading voices in Afrobeats and R&B.
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