Little Simz, Cynthia Erivo, Mahalia, and other leading creatives joined the Nigerian star for an evening centered on connection and collaboration.

London, United Kingdom (Running Africa) — Nigerian Grammy-winning artist Tems has brought her women-focused music initiative Leading Vibe to London, gathering some of the UK’s most prominent female artists and creatives for an evening centered on mentorship, community, and greater opportunities for women in music.

The intimate dinner, held at Dovetale at 1 Hotel Mayfair, brought together leading names including Little Simz, Cynthia Erivo, Mahalia, ENNY, Grace Carter, and Ms. Banks, among others.

The gathering came ahead of Tems’ appearance at London’s All Points East festival and represents another step in the international expansion of an initiative she launched to address some of the barriers she encountered while building her own career.

Tems Takes Leading Vibe Initiative to London

Tems launched Leading Vibe in 2025 with a focus on helping young women navigate the often difficult path into the music industry.

Rather than functioning solely as an artist showcase, the initiative is designed to provide women with mentorship, practical training, industry knowledge, and professional networks that can help them build sustainable careers.

The London gathering extended that mission by bringing women from different parts of the British music and entertainment industries into the same space for conversation and connection.

For Tems, the emphasis has remained on building networks that extend beyond individual events.

Little Simz, Cynthia Erivo, and Mahalia Join Leading Vibe Dinner

The London event attracted an influential group of female creatives spanning music, acting, and entertainment.

Among those attending were Little Simz, Cynthia Erivo, Mahalia, ENNY, Grace Carter, and Ms. Banks.

Their presence reflects Leading Vibe’s broader ambition to connect emerging women with established figures who understand the creative and commercial realities of building careers in entertainment.

It also places the initiative within a growing international conversation about representation, access, and leadership for women across the music business.

Leading Vibe Expands From Lagos Across Africa

The initiative began its work in Lagos, where emerging female artists and music professionals participated in workshops and masterclasses led by established industry figures.

Programming focused on developing practical skills while giving participants greater insight into the business behind music.

Leading Vibe subsequently expanded to Nairobi and Johannesburg, taking its emphasis on creative independence, professional development and industry access beyond Nigeria.

The expansion reflects Tems’ increasingly global profile while keeping African women and emerging creatives at the center of the program’s mission.

Tems Joined Michelle Obama for a Chicago Songwriting Workshop

Tems has also taken her mentorship efforts beyond the Leading Vibe program itself.

In June, she joined Michelle Obama at the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago for a songwriting workshop involving young women.

Drawing on her experience as a largely self-taught artist, Tems encouraged participants to develop their creative abilities and pursue careers on their own terms.

The session reflected a theme that has increasingly accompanied her own rise: using the access created by global success to open doors for other women.

Tems Builds Global Network for Women in Music

Tems has emerged as one of Nigeria’s most internationally successful artists, but Leading Vibe represents an effort to turn that individual success into a wider platform.

From Lagos to Nairobi, Johannesburg, and now London, the initiative is building connections among women at different stages of their careers while addressing knowledge and access gaps that can make it difficult to enter the music business.

The London gathering, therefore, represents more than another celebrity dinner.

For Tems, it is part of a longer-term effort to ensure that as African women gain greater visibility across global music, they also gain the skills, networks, and industry access needed to build lasting careers.