Nigeria - Celebritysphere 🎬 Temmie Ovwasa (The Blacklisted Nigerian Lesbian)

[preshly]

Temmie Ovwasa (born 29 November 1996 in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria) is a Nigerian alternative R&B singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, poet and queer feminist artist. They first entered the limelight under the stage name “YBNL Princess” as the first female artist signed to YBNL Nation, a major Nigerian record label. In 2020 they released what is widely recognized as Nigeria’s first openly queer album. They are openly lesbian and identify as non-binary.


Childhood and Early Life

Temmie grew up in Ilorin, Kwara State, where music was part of their early life. According to accounts, Temmie began singing and writing music from a young age. Temmie has publicly shared that they were sexually molested by their stepfather as a child. They revealed this on social media, expressing intense and complex emotions about the experience and the abuser’s later suffering. This traumatic experience appears to have shaped some of Temmie’s perspectives on trauma, pain, and autonomy, especially in a culture where abuse can be under-reported and protected.

Queer Identity and Early Awareness​

Temmie has spoken openly about their sexuality:

• They say they were born a lesbian and that coming to terms with this identity was not a choice but a truth they chose to live openly. Temmie joined YBNL at age 19 still in the closet, at a time when they were queer but not publicly out yet. Later, they discussed trying to suppress their sexuality through religious deliverances and even river baths, a reflection of the intense pressure and stigma queer people face, especially in conservative religious contexts, but found it didn’t change who they were. Temmie’s openness about their queer identity has not been easy; they’ve said publicly that “coming out was career suicide” because people in the mainstream music scene shunned them and urged them to hide their sexuality to fit in.

In 2015, Temmie was signed to YBNL Nation by Nigerian rapper Olamide, making them the first female artist on the label. They released singles and established themselves as a promising voice in alternative R&B within Nigeria.

Challenges Within YBNL​

Temmie has since spoken frankly about how difficult their experience was:

• They accused Olamide’s wife of treating them poorly, referring to being made an “errand girl” and publicly humiliated on outings. Temmie said that during their time at YBNL they recorded more than 25 songs that never released because a producer misplaced the drive, a claim that has been widely reported. They felt sidelined and limited, stating that the environment was more about image than letting them create music. Temmie left YBNL in 2020 after disagreements with management. (Wikipedia)

Since leaving, they have been far more prolific, releasing multiple albums and music projects and expressing artistic freedom unfettered by their earlier label constraints. After YBNL, Temmie’s career has taken a uniquely bold and creative path: In 2020 they released what is often regarded as Nigeria’s first openly gay album, a historic milestone in the Nigerian music scene. Temmie is known for their distinctive alternative R&B sound and lyrics that grapple with identity, vulnerability, oppression, trauma, love, and self-acceptance.

• They have written hundreds of songs and released several full projects since parting ways with YBNL, showcasing a prolific artistic drive.