Nigerian music star Temilade Openiyi, widely known as Tems, has revealed an unexpected alternative career path, sharing that she might have ended up as a mathematics teacher if she hadn’t followed her passion for music.
The Grammy winner made this known during a question-and-answer session with fans on X, where she briefly opened up about her academic interests and what her life could have looked like outside the music industry.
Fans Get a Glimpse of Her Academic Side
When a fan posed the question, “If music didn’t work, what else do you think you would be doing today?”
Tems responded: “I would have been a mathematics teacher or maybe an accountant.”
Her response caught many by surprise, highlighting her strong academic inclination alongside her artistic talent.
From Marketing to Music
Before deciding to chase music full-time, Tems worked in digital marketing. She eventually left the corporate sector in January 2018 to pursue her music career without distraction.
Early Beginnings
Tems released her debut single, Mr Rebel, in July 2018. The track gained attention in Nigeria and showcased her distinctive voice and style.
Rise to Global Fame
Her big break came in 2020 when she featured on Wizkid’s hit Essence, which later peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 after the Justin Bieber-assisted remix. The success catapulted her into international stardom and solidified her place as one of Nigeria’s most influential artists.
Fans React
Social media users shared humorous reactions to her revelation:
- @honestfc1: “You can’t be mathematics teacher because kids of nowadays”
- @OkemaxCmr: “Make I throw you one small Maths question? If you fail it, I will feature you on a song??”
- @Juwon433: “#AskTemsLol with that big ikebe! U wan be teacher ??”
- @Ryderchi01: “Imagine the boy not wanting to miss your class because your backha, E bad!!”
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