REWIRING THE CULTURAL CODE OF AFRICA AND ITS DIASPORA

Love is a Kindgom

VOYA EVENTS

REREOLUWA OBADEYI

3 min read

Tems. That's all.

Draped in blue, decked in a simple yet elegant necklace, she carried the poise of a goddess whose vocal cords were crafted to croon music that reached the very depths of the soul.

She stepped into the bluish, neon-drenched night scape to the cheers of the already anticipating crowd. Like a sword unsheathed, the vibe switched up. Phones were brandished in her direction, and fans swarmed around her to catch a glimpse of the star of the show.

The euphoric rhythms from the Queen of Neo-Soul’s new extended play project, Love is a Kingdom, took over the crowd.

Glasses clinked and Hennessy cups were raised in a toast to the formal arrival of a solid body of work, whose infectious rhythm kept the crowd going all night as if the party had just started. For the fans who had followed her from when she dropped “Mr Rebel” to “Try Me", a song that was so soulful, sombre, and deeply passionate, that it seemed to peer into their souls and quickly compel Nigerians to listen, it was clear that they were witnessing the birth of a new sound. A sound that would later catch the attention of the entire world, and become a prelude to her topping the Billboard Hot 100 with “Wait for U”, a song that samples her track “Higher” from her debut extended play, For Broken Ears.

This was another delightful gift from the falsetto Queen herself, one that they could never get enough of.

From her hit single “Big Daddy” (released 21st of November, 2025) and the rest of the gems on that extended play, the party attendees were left stunned and in a complete chokehold, sweating it out on the dance floor.

In its entirety, the night was nothing short of magic, a perfect kickstart for Detty December.

In essence this masterpiece from Tems was indeed vivid imagery in songs of what it'd be like, if Love Is a Kingdom

Love Is a Kingdom is being treated like vibes when it’s actually confession...

Big Daddy is the clearest example of this disconnect. People chant the hook, turn it into slang, dance to it in clubs. But they’re not listening.

Tems is not singing about money, status, or bravado. She’s talking about power exchange. No ambition but he wants to be called "Big Daddy". Nbgbeke feeling funky.

We feel it's about wanting safety, surrender, reassurance. About choosing softness without losing agency.

It’s desire spoken plainly. Almost uncomfortably so. And that honesty runs through the album.

This project isn’t loud. It’s inward.

Tems keeps returning to themes of emotional control, intimacy, faith, longing, and self possession. Not in a dramatic way. In a steady, grounded way. Like someone who has already lived through the chaos and is now naming it calmly.

That’s why this album feels misunderstood. It requires stillness. And stillness isn’t popular.

So if you’ve only been singing along, you’ve missed the point. Go back.

Listen to the lyrics. Not as hits. As statements.