Tems Reveals Her Leap of Faith From Digital Marketing to Global Music Fame
Tems, one of Africa’s most celebrated voices, has shared how her journey into music was sparked by a life-changing decision to quit her corporate job in 2018. The Grammy-winning singer opened up in a heartfelt interview with Billboard, describing the emotional and spiritual weight behind her decision to leave digital marketing and pursue music full-time.
Before the fame, Tems worked in digital marketing but felt spiritually disconnected from her job. By early 2018, she reached a breaking point. “It got to a point where I couldn’t take it anymore. It was really dawning on me like, it’s now or never,” she said. She described how she waited until she had enough faith to move forward, trusting that God would guide her steps.
Tems officially resigned in January 2018. Within a few months, she released her debut single Mr Rebel, a track that marked the beginning of her career. She noted that walking away from her job felt like a spiritual moment. “Spiritually, I was aware that digital marketing wasn’t my path… It felt really like life or death,” she explained.
That leap of faith soon paid off. In 2020, she gained global attention when she featured on Wizkid’s hit single Essence, which broke records and reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Two years later, her collaboration with Future and Drake on Wait For U debuted at No. 1, making her the first African artist to achieve that milestone.
Tems’ journey has only grown stronger. In 2025, she secured another Grammy win for Best African Music Performance with her emotional hit Love Me Jeje, further cementing her place in global music history.
From quitting her job to topping international charts, Tems’ inspiring journey is a powerful reminder of what faith, courage, and purpose can lead to.
