Nigerian music star Tiwa Savage has spoken out in defence of fellow singer Tems, questioning why the fast-rising global star is not included in conversations about Afrobeats’ biggest names.
In the Nigerian music scene, the phrase “Big 3” is commonly used to describe Davido, Burna Boy, and Wizkid.
These three male artistes are widely recognised as Nigeria’s most dominant global exports, with sold-out shows, international collaborations, and multiple awards to their credit.
However, Tiwa believes the label is not only limiting but also unfair to women who have contributed significantly to the genre.
Speaking in a recent interview with BBC Radio 1Xtra, she challenged the criteria used to define the “Big 3” and argued that female artistes like Tems deserve equal recognition.
“Think about it,” Tiwa said. “Certain types of artistes get paid more. So, they get the opportunity to spend more on influencers and radio play, so you are going to hear their music way more.
Also, I feel like it is unfair to have a conversation about the Top 3 and not mention someone like Tems. Are you serious?”
Her comments have stirred debate online, with many fans agreeing that Tems has already achieved global recognition that rivals, and in some cases surpasses, some of her male counterparts.
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Tems, born Temilade Openiyi, rose to international fame in 2020 after collaborating with Wizkid on the hit track Essence. The song became a global anthem, earning international chart success and multiple nominations.
Since then, Tems has continued to break barriers. In 2022, she featured alongside Future and Drake on Wait For U, a track that won the Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance in 2023, marking her first Grammy.
By 2025, she claimed her second Grammy Award, winning the Best African Performance category, a recognition that further cemented her status as one of Africa’s most successful global stars.
For Tiwa Savage, Tems’ achievements highlight a bigger issue: the tendency of the industry to celebrate male artistes while overlooking the equally groundbreaking contributions of women.
Tiwa, who herself has been at the forefront of Afrobeats for over a decade, pointed out that this exclusionary narrative fails to capture the full picture of the genre’s global impact.
Read Also: Tems crowned Africa’s top-selling female artiste
Her bold defence of Tems adds to the ongoing conversation about gender representation in the music industry. Many see it as a call to re-examine how success is measured, and which voices are amplified in global music conversations.
As Afrobeats continues to dominate international stages, the question of who belongs in its top tier remains open. With Tems breaking records and inspiring a new generation of female artists, Tiwa Savage’s challenge may well push the industry to widen its view of what the “Big 3”, or perhaps “Big 4”, should mean.
