Tems Reveals She Was Bullied for Her Voice While Growing Up

Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, widely known as Tems and recently honored with a Grammy, has bravely shared her childhood struggles with bullying, revealing that she was targeted for her voice not aligning with societal expectations.

In an exclusive interview with The Cut and as the cover star for the January 2024 issue of its Magazine, Tems disclosed that she chose to remain silent until the age of three, facing ridicule and bullying as her voice differed from what society deemed appropriate for girls.

Recounting the emotional impact of the bullying, Tems spoke candidly about the tears and taunts she endured, leading to a sense of self-consciousness and the belief that her voice was deemed unattractive. She shared, “I was bullied to the point of tears and was a target of ridicule. This led to the belief that I sounded like a boy, or a frog, with the impression that my voice was ugly.”

Despite the challenges she faced, Tems recently achieved another milestone as she was announced alongside Afrobeat artists Tyla and Spinall to headline the 2024 edition of the Coachella Festival.

Opening up about her isolated childhood, Tems revealed her attempts to connect with others through song, only to find herself feeling different from girls with sweeter, higher voices. “I was always in my little world. When I did make friends, I would try to make them sing my songs, and other girls had these sweet, high voices and my voice had a bass,” she shared.

This revelation adds depth to Tems’ earlier statement about turning to music as a refuge due to a lack of friends. Despite the challenges, the singer’s resilience shines through, and her story serves as an inspiring testament to overcoming adversity and embracing individuality.