Awoniyi detailed the unique moment that changed their relationship from friendship to business partnership
“Tems Had Just ₦200 When We Met” – Manager Muyiwa Awoniyi Shares Humble Beginnings
Muyiwa Awoniyi, manager of Grammy-winning Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has opened up about her humble beginnings, revealing that she had only ₦200 in her account when they first crossed paths.
Speaking on the Afrobeats Intelligence podcast, Awoniyi recalled how the now-globally acclaimed artist was financially struggling but radiated determination and integrity that set her apart.
“When I met Tems, she only had like 200 Naira in her account,” Awoniyi said. “Then I had a production company. So, if I had money, I would buy food. But even when she had nothing, she would still order food for us. She didn’t even have a way of earning. That’s when I realised she was different from everyone I had seen in Nigeria.”
Awoniyi detailed the unique moment that changed their relationship from friendship to business partnership.
“There was something Tems did that made me say, ‘I don’t want to do a managerial contract with you, let’s do a company,’” he recalled. “When she asked me to be her manager, I agreed and said I would send her a contract to sign. But instead, she was the one chasing me to sign my part. I had never experienced that before.”
According to him, they had been friends for about three months before discussing anything work-related. During that time, Tems would quietly sit in on his podcast recordings without ever pushing herself forward.
“You know when you present paperwork for artists to sign, it’s always tricky. But she was chasing me to sign my own part,” Awoniyi continued. “That was the moment I thought, ‘You’re
