Grammy-winning Nigerian artist Tems has opened up about the challenges she faced due to bullying over the tone of her voice. In a recent interview with The Cut, Tems revealed that she refrained from speaking until the age of three. Growing up, she struggled with self-consciousness as her voice differed from other girls, resulting in relentless bullying and mockery.

Tems shared that she was often brought to tears and became a target for ridicule, with others asserting that her voice resembled that of a boy or a frog, deeming it unpleasant. The constant criticism left her with the perception that her voice was unattractive. She described how, in her attempts to connect with friends, she would encourage them to sing her songs, highlighting the stark contrast between her deep-toned voice and the sweet, high voices of her peers.

This revelation adds depth to Tems’ previous statement about turning to music as a solace, mentioning that her difficulty in making friends led her to find companionship in her craft.