Tems opens up on marriage: ‘my partner has to be a godly man’

Nigerian singer Tems offered a nuanced take on marriage, arguing that it should not be based on feelings alone but also on a vision of personal growth and responsibility. In an interview with Angie Martinez, the Grammy-winning artist said that a marital commitment involves weathering difficult times and requires a certain maturity.

According to her, the choice of partner is decisive. Tems said she favours a man guided by faith, which she sees as a mark of responsibility and stability in a relationship. « My partner has to be a godly man. Because how can I truly love him if I don’t answer to anyone? If I don’t answer to anyone, how could I choose to love him and keep loving him for the rest of our lives? » she said.

The singer also stressed the evolving nature of marriage: « If you’re the master of your own life, why would you love me forever? You could just drop me whenever you want. But marriage is supposed to make us grow. It shouldn’t just be about love — compatibility matters too. It’s about whether a relationship helps us evolve, helps us grow. Because marriage is on a whole other level; it’s meant to test us. »