I’m not an Afrobeat singer, I’m an R&B singer – Tems.

I’m not an Afrobeat singer, I’m an R&B singer – Tems.

Nigerian singer Tems has publicly clarified that she does not consider herself an Afrobeats artist, classifying her sound instead as R&B and alternative Afro-soul.

In a recent interview, the Grammy-winning star expressed frustration with the media and music blogs for boxing her in, noting that any music originating from Africa is automatically categorized as Afrobeats, regardless of its actual sonic qualities.

Tems points out that the global music industry uses “Afrobeats” as a blanket term for African creators, erasing their distinct genres.

She has historically noted that she grew up listening to classic vocalists like Celine Dion and intentionally pursued soul and R&B.

She believes an artist’s sound should be defined by their actual musical composition, not their nationality or continent of birth.

NJ