Nigerian-born Grammy Award-winning artist Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has made history as the first African woman to hold an ownership stake in a Major League Soccer (MLS) club. Through The Leading Vibe, her company, together with African private equity outfit Pave Investments, she has invested alongside the ownership team of San Diego FC, an expansion team launching play in the 2025 season.
Hailing from Lagos, Nigeria, Tems has risen to international acclaim due to her unique sound and creative integrity. She has achieved international success through collaborations on chart-toping hits “Essence” featuring Wizkid, “Wait for U” featuring Future, and two Grammy Award-winning, as well as an Academy Award-nominated, “Lift Me Up” from the soundrack of film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Aside from music, Tems has achieved huge acclaim due to empowering youthful talent, as well as creating cultural exchange across sectors.
The announcement that Tems has entered the ownership group of San Diego FC represents an unprecedented sports and entertainment milestone. In excitement, Tems had this to say:
“I am thrilled to join San Diego FC’s ownership group and to be part of a club that celebrates creativity, culture, and the power of community. Football has a unique way of bringing people together, and I am excited to help build something special in San Diego, a city that thrives on diversity and innovation.”
San Diego FC ownership team has an influential, multicultural group of prominent individuals, including British-Egyptian billionaire Mohamed Mansour, Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, the first Native American tribal ownership entity of any pro sports team, actress/prodcer Issa Rae, World Cup-winning player Juan Mata, ex-U.S. Navy SEAL Jocko Willink, and San Diego Padres’ MLB All-Star Manny Machado.
Tems’ investment has been facilitated by Pave Investments, an African privately-held investment entity famous for strategic investments in sports, including the NBA Africa. Pave Investments’ chairman, Tunde Folawiyo, noted the significance of this deal:
“San Diego FC represents the very essence of community, passion, and excellence. At Pave, our core mission is to invest in talent. I am delighted to join this dynamic ownership group and support the club’s efforts to create global pathways for African football talent from the Right to Dream Academies while uncovering the next generation of football stars in the U.S. and Mexico.”
Beyond the pitch, the addition of Tems also signifies greater harmony between sports, music, and society. She has an ardent passion for building community, complementing perfectly the vision of the club, which seeks to unite many communities via football.
San Diego FC CEO Tom Penn echoed this sentiment, stating:
“Tems is an extraordinary artist and a global cultural force. We are honored to have her join our club and bring her visionary perspective to San Diego FC. Her passion for empowering the next generation aligns perfectly with our mission.”
Tems continues to break down barriers by venturing into sports ownership, empowering sports women and African entrepreneurs globally. She proves that creatives have the power to cause change across sectors, defying norms. Her ownership agreement with San Diego FC enhances the cultural identity of the team while paving the way for greater representation and inclusion in sports leadership.
As San Diego FC prepares for its highly anticipated launch in 2025, including trailblazer collaborations like those with Tems, it ushers an era of change both for the team, as well as society. The collaboration speaks to the immense power cultural icons have when it comes to unifying people, building an inclusive, empowering sports heritage.
