Renowned Nigerian singer Tiwa Savage has defended Tems after her name was left out of the top three Afrobeats artists.

the phrase ‘Big 3’ commonly refers to the well-known male artists Davido, Burna Boy, and Wizkid, who are recognized as Nigeria’s leading musical representatives on the global stage.

Tiwa questioned the criteria for naming the ‘Big 3’, arguing that this viewpoint overlooks the significant accomplishments of the women in the Afrobeats scene.

In a BBC Radio 1Xtra interview, she addressed the unfair exclusion of female artists and emphasized that Tems deserves to be acknowledged at a high level.

“Consider this: Certain types of artists receive higher payments, allowing them to invest more in promotions and radio, so their music reaches more listeners,” she explained.

“It’s also not fair to discuss the Top 3 without mentioning someone like Tems. Seriously?” she posed.

Tems gained popularity in 2020 through her collaboration with Wizkid on the track ‘Essence’.

In 2023, she won her first Grammy for her role in the song 'Wait For U,' released in 2022.

By 2025, Tems went on to win her second Grammy Award for ‘Best African Performance’.

The #Afrobeats Podcast on Instagram: "“I also feel like it’s unfair to have that conversation about the Big 3 and not mention someone like Tems” - Tiwa Savage"

afrobeatspodcast on September 3, 2025: "“I also feel like it’s unfair to have that conversation about the Big 3 and not mention someone like Tems” - Tiwa Savage".