How Illness, Surgery Delayed My Debut Album – Tems Explains

Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, better known by her stage name Tems, has disclosed that she had to postpone the release of her debut album due to a “serious illness” (she did not elaborate).

In a recent interview with the New York Times, Tems—who rose to prominence in 2020 after featuring on Wizkid’s summer smash song “Essence”—revealed that the sickness that required surgery and a six-month recuperation period had delayed the release of her first album, which was originally slated for 2021.

The Oscar-nominated diva clarified that in its place, she published her second lengthy play, “If Orange Was a Place.”

Read Also: Tyla Praises Tems Over Global Recognition For African Female Artists

Fighting her way back to health partly inspired her new music, which she said was about embracing life as a warrior.

“Being a warrior is about not giving up,” she said. “Even if they cut your leg, you walk on your knees, you fight on your knees using what you have — and that’s good enough.”

Tems’ much-anticipated and long-awaited debut album, ‘Born In The Wild’ will arrive June 7.

She is also kicking off her first headline world tour in June.