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Astrida Valigorsky / Contributor by way of Getty Photographs
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Tems at 2025 Roots Picnic Pageant
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Key Takeaways:
- Tems launches the Main Vibe Initiative, which presents mentorship and coaching for ladies pursuing careers in African music.
- This system kicks off in Nigeria this August with workshops, panels and masterclasses.
- She goals to shut the gender hole in music by supporting future producers, engineers and artists.
Tems is all about empowering folks, and particularly, younger girls who’ve a “voice, present and want to be heard.” On Wednesday (July 2), the Grammy Award-winning artist launched her Main Vibe Initiative, a platform devoted to connecting and amplifying girls within the music business.
“My objective with the Main Vibe Initiative is to assist uncover and assist proficient younger girls who’ve the potential to redefine the business,” the “Love Me JeJe” artist wrote in a press assertion. Based on a 2023 USC Annenberg examine, girls account for lower than 25% of music artists, with even fewer represented as songwriters and producers. Nevertheless, Tems is seeking to shut that hole by way of mentorship coaching, and different hands-on profession alternatives.
“By offering entry, instruments and alternative, we’re creating area for them to search out their voices, step into their energy, and form the way forward for music throughout the continent and globally,” she mentioned. Launching first in Africa, Tems’ dwelling continent, the initiative will finally increase throughout the globe.
The very first installment of this system will happen on Aug. 8 and 9, with functions formally opening at present for ladies based mostly in Nigeria. Based on the announcement, Day 1 will embody an “intimate occasion,” whereas Day 2 will provide a full slate of immersive experiences, like workshops, panels and masterclasses. These can apply proper right here.
As many followers most likely keep in mind, Tems herself was as soon as on the surface wanting in. She had her main breakthrough due to Wizkid’s 2020 smash “Essence,” which climbed all the best way to No. 9 on the Billboard Sizzling 100 and bought an enormous enhance when Justin Bieber jumped on the remix. That very same 12 months, the songstress dropped For Damaged Ears, dwelling to “Free Thoughts” and “Greater,” the latter of which was sampled by Future on his Grammy Award-winning hit “WAIT FOR U.”
And simply in case anybody doubts how pivotal Tems’ rise has been, fellow Afrobeats stars like Tyla have praised her for “opening so many doorways” for African artists worldwide.