Nigerian music star Tiwa Savage has argued that it is unfair to exclude Tems from the list of the top three artists in Afrobeats.
The term ‘Big 3’ is popularly used to describe the male trio of Davido, Burna Boy, and Wizkid, who are seen as Nigeria’s biggest global music exports.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Radio 1Xtra, Tiwa Savage questioned the criteria for selecting the ‘Big 3’, stating that the conversation ignores the significant accomplishments of leading female artists in the genre.
She challenged the practice of excluding female singers and stated that Tems deserves to be recognized at the top tier. “I feel like it is unfair to have a conversation about the Top 3 and not mention someone like Tems. Are you serious?” she asked.
Savage also suggested that certain types of artists are paid more, which allows them to spend more on promotion like influencers and radio play, making their music more widely heard.
Tems gained international recognition in 2020 following her feature on Wizkid’s song, ‘Essence’.
She won her first Grammy Award in 2023 for her work on the song ‘Wait For U’ and secured her second Grammy in 2025 in the ‘Best African Performance’ category.
