“Come See for Yourself” – Tems Challenges the World to Discover Africa’s Beauty Beyond Stereotypes

Global music sensation and Grammy-winning artist, Tems, used her platform at the 2025 Met Gala to send a heartfelt message to the world: come see Africa with your own eyes.

Speaking to Fashion Bomb Daily on the prestigious Met Gala red carpet in New York, Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, called on people worldwide to challenge outdated narratives about Africa and explore the continent’s vibrant cities, starting with Lagos and Ghana.

“Just go and see for yourself before you make an opinion,” she urged.
“The beauty of Africa is in the creativity, the daily efforts, the looks, the songs, the traditions, and the cultures.”

As she dazzled in her elegant Met Gala ensemble, Tems reminded the world that Africa is not a monolith — and that African music is far richer than the one-size-fits-all label of Afrobeats.

“We are not just Afrobeats,” she emphasized.
“There is Amapiano, Afrosoul, Afro-Jazz, R&B. We [Africans] can go further in every single aspect of sound.”

💭 Opinion: Tems Is Right — Africa’s Beauty Deserves to Be Witnessed, Not Just Assumed

Tems’ words are more than a travel tip — they’re a cultural awakening. For too long, Africa has been boxed in by stereotypes, consumed through headlines rather than heartbeats.

Her call is timely and powerful: don’t just stream African music, experience the world that created it. From the electric nightlife of Lagos to the soul-soothing rhythm of Ghana’s coasts, Africa offers a mosaic of traditions, flavors, and talents that no secondhand story can capture.

And as African artists like Tems continue to break global ground, it’s a reminder that Africa doesn’t need fixing — it needs seeing.

🌍 Have you been to Lagos or Accra? Thinking of visiting?
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