Tems Urges Global Audience to Explore Africa Beyond Stereotypes at 2025 Met Gala
During an exclusive interview with Fashion Bomb Daily at the 2025 Met Gala in New York City, Grammy Award-winning artist Temilade Openiyi, known professionally as Tems, called on the global community to experience Africa firsthand, beginning with visits to Lagos and Ghana.
“I always encourage people to go to Lagos and Ghana for vacation,” Tems said. “Just go and see for yourself before you form an opinion about Africa. See it for yourself and see how you feel.”
Tems emphasized the importance of moving beyond outdated stereotypes and recognizing the vibrancy and diversity of African culture. “I think the beauty of Africa is in the creativity, the daily efforts, the looks, the songs, the traditions, and the cultures,” she said.
The Nigerian singer also highlighted the broad spectrum of African music, pushing back against the global perception that it begins and ends with Afrobeats. “We Africans can go further in every single aspect of sound,” she said. “We are not just Afrobeats. There is Amapiano, Afrosoul, R&B, Afro Jazz. There are so many genres in African music that people are not all the way tapped into yet.”
With her statements, Tems continues to use her platform to champion African artistry and culture, inviting the world to discover the richness of the continent for themselves.