It’s difficult having police follow me when I go out, Singer Tems opens up on how fame has changed her routine

Nigerian singer and songwriter Temilade Openiyi popularly known in music circles as Tems has opened up about how fame has drastically changed her daily routine.

The ‘Love Me Jeje’ crooner who made a guest appearance on Big Boy TV said that she used to try to drive out before but she almost got mobbed last year because she attempted to drive herself.

Tems disclosed that she now has police cars in front and at the back when she is going out, and if she wants to drive herself, there must be police driving behind her.

‘‘And we have area boys, and they know who I am, so I can’t drive anywhere. I used to try to drive before but I almost got mobbed last year because I attempted to drive myself.

READ ALSO: 50 Cent says he rejected $3m to perform at Donald Trump’s rally

”Now I have to have police cars in front and at the back, and if I want to drive myself, there must be police diving behind me.

‘‘If in trying to live a normal life again and feel normal, I have to have police escorts in front and at the back if I’m in Nigeria. If I say I want to be behind the wheel and feel like the normal girl, I can’t.”

Speaking candidly about her own experience adjusting to stardom, the Afrobeat artist acknowledged that it hasn’t always been simple, particularly given her introverted personality.

Tems said; “I didn’t take it well at first, the fame. After some time I just wanted some alone time and wanted to go back to my room and be alone. Even with my team, adapting to having to talk and have conversations was strange because I never had to do that before so I didn’t take it well at all. I was very blunt, rude… I wouldn’t say rude, but I’d say things that were obvious, but I wasn’t meant to say them.”

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now