There’s a quiet shift happening in African music—and Tems is choosing to make it louder, for the right reasons.
The Grammy-winning artist has announced the Leading Vibe Initiative, a pan-African programme created to support and elevate young women working in music. It launches in Lagos this August, but its ambition stretches far beyond one city—or even one country.
At its core, the initiative is about access. About closing a gap that has existed for far too long.
Founded by Tems herself, Leading Vibe is designed to bring together female artists, songwriters and producers, offering them mentorship, tools and industry exposure that are often difficult to come by—especially for women navigating a still male-dominated space.
The first edition, set for 8–9 August in Lagos, is open to Nigeria-based women aged 18 to 35 who are actively working in music and looking to grow professionally. Applications close on 13 July via the initiative’s official platform.
But this is more than a programme—it’s personal.
Speaking on the launch, Tems reflects on her own beginnings and the absence of structured support:
“My goal with the Leading Vibe Initiative is to help discover and support talented young women who have the potential to redefine the industry,” — Tems, via official initiative announcement.
“By providing access, tools and opportunity, we’re creating space for them to find their voices, step into their power and shape the future of music across the continent and globally.” — Tems, via official initiative announcement.
The numbers tell their own story. Globally, women make up just 22% of artists, 12.8% of songwriters, and a stark 3% of producers. On the continent, those figures are often even lower—shaped by structural barriers, limited access, and cultural bias.
Leading Vibe is Tems’ response to that reality.
Participants will move through an immersive experience—training sessions, creative workshops, mentorship circles and masterclasses led by leading voices in the industry. A partnership with Native Instruments will also give them access to advanced production tools, a critical step in shifting who gets to create—and control—sound.
And this is just the beginning.
Plans are already in motion to expand the initiative into other African cities later this year, with a longer-term vision that reaches global stages. Still, the intention remains rooted in something simple and powerful: building a community.
A space where women in music aren’t the exception—but the centre.
Because sometimes, changing the industry doesn’t start with a hit record. It starts with who gets the mic.
Ends.
