British rapper and singer, Tinie Tempah, has spoken proudly about his Igbo roots, crediting his background as a major influence on his creativity and artistic expression.
The award-winning artist shared the revelation in a video posted on his YouTube channel, where he highlighted the long-standing tradition of excellence associated with the Igbo people.
He referenced legendary writers such as Chinua Achebe and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, noting their global recognition as proof of the community’s deep creative strength.
According to the hitmaker, learning about the achievements of notable Igbo figures helped him better understand the source of his own talent.
“I am from the Igbo tribe, and I do believe that there’s something very intrinsically creative about Igbo people,” he said.
“Growing up, I started to understand that a lot of Black authors from Nigeria, specifically the Igbo tribe, who have won the Bookerman Prize. That’s a global book award. The likes of Chinua Achebe, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, who was on Beyoncé’s album as well, have won that award.
“So, I think my talent and creativity has something to do with my heritage and lineage and origin. And that’s beautiful,” he added.
His comments have since resonated with fans across the world, especially Nigerians, many of whom applauded him for openly embracing and celebrating his cultural identity.
