LAGOS, Nigeria — Nigerian singer-songwriter and producer Temilade Openiyi, known as Tems, announced the launch of the Leading Vibe Initiative to empower African women in music, July 3, 2025.
Built from Tems’ own experience breaking through as a self-taught creator in a male-dominated industry, the platform is designed to move fast: hands-on training, real mentorship, and direct access to the rooms where careers get built. Its first edition begins with an immersive Aug. 8-9 program in Lagos before broader rollouts across Africa.
Tems’ Leading Vibe Initiative: what’s launching in Lagos
The Leading Vibe Initiative is structured as a career accelerator for emerging women artists, songwriters and producers — the talent often shut out of equipment, networks and decision-makers long before the first hit arrives.
For the kickoff cohort, applications are open to women based in Nigeria ages 18 to 35, with an application deadline of July 13. The program is built around workshops, masterclasses and panel conversations that tackle both the creative and business realities of music — from refining songwriting and production skills to navigating monetization, branding and long-term strategy.
“MY GOAL WITH THE LEADING VIBE INITIATIVE IS TO HELP DISCOVER AND SUPPORT TALENTED YOUNG WOMEN WHO HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO REDEFINE THE INDUSTRY,” TEMS SAID.
Brand partnerships are also part of the blueprint, positioned to bring resources and visibility to the initiative’s early stages. In a partner statement, Tems framed the work as a long game: “I’m excited to partner with Hennessy in bringing this initiative to life, supporting talented young women in music,” she said.
What Tems wants to change — and how big this can get
Tems’ ambition is continent-scale: build a pipeline that doesn’t just spotlight women in music, but strengthens their leverage — in studios, in writer’s rooms, on stages, and in boardrooms. Organizers say additional rollouts are planned across Africa, with an eventual goal of expanding the model globally.
The urgency is clear. Industry numbers frequently cited in recent reporting show women remain underrepresented as artists, and even more sharply underrepresented as songwriters and producers. Leading Vibe’s pitch is to close that gap with something practical: skills, tools, network and opportunity — delivered in one concentrated, community-driven package.
And for Tems, the timing is intentional. As her career has stretched from Lagos to global stages, she’s increasingly positioned to do what few artists can: turn personal momentum into infrastructure that outlives a single album cycle.
