African music stars are enjoying global spotlight thanks to Afrobeats, and for Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi aka Tems, it’s a constellation of beautiful stars falling in the right place. Last month, the 27-year-old singer-songwriter performed at the NBA All-Star halftime show alongside other Afrobeats megastars Burna Boy and Rema. A first of its kind.
On 12th March, Tems attended the 2023 Oscars where she was nominated for Best Original Song for her contribution to Rihanna’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever tracks, “Lift Me Up.” The award ultimately went to “Naatu Naatu” from the Indian action epic, RRR.

Tems might not have taken home an Oscar at the 95th Academy Awards, but she did leave a big impression thanks to her eye-catching outfit. Last year, Will Smith was the most talked about celebrity at the 94th edition of the award after he slapped host Chris Rock on stage for making a joke about his wife, Jada-Pinkett’s baldness.
Adorned in an elaborate white gown from Lever Couture, featuring a particularly large headpiece, Tems stole the show. Becoming the most talked about celebrity of the night after Twitter user Jarrett Bellini tweeted “Imagine waiting your whole life to be at the Oscars and you end up sitting behind a stratus cloud.”

Social media users have reacted to the singer’s dress with mixed feelings. While some felt it was not a big deal, others thought it was insensitive and rude on the part of the songbird as the headpiece appeared to be obstructing the view of those seated behind her inside the Dolby theater.
But Tems’ dress may speak to a deeper meaning than meets the eye. This is the first time an African artiste will be the most talked about the personality of the night at the Academy Awards in its 95-year history. Of course, other African acts have made news at the event in previous years but not at this magnitude.
Perhaps her dress could be symbolic, indicating that she is taking up space on the world stage and that she refuses to not be seen.