When Tems arrived in Kyoto for the launch of OMEGA’s new Aqua Terra 30 mm collection, she did not need to announce her presence. The Grammy-winning Nigerian artist carried it quietly, a polished confidence, a style that whispered rather than shouted.
On her wrist glinted the Swiss brand’s latest Seamaster model; in the room, she stood alongside Ashley Graham, Ariana DeBose, and K-pop star Danielle Marsh. Yet Tems, calm and assured, was unmistakably the center of gravity.
At the event, OMEGA, the 176-year-old Swiss luxury watchmaker, unveiled not just a collection but a new global ambassador. By naming Tems as one of the faces of its “My Little Secret” campaign, the brand added a new kind of icon to its roster, which has long featured Hollywood legends like Nicole Kidman, George Clooney, and Daniel Craig.
For Tems, the partnership is more than a career milestone. For Africa, it is a cultural moment. Few African artists have ever been elevated to global representation in the luxury sector, and OMEGA’s decision signals a widening of the fashion and luxury world’s gaze beyond its traditional borders.
“Tems embodies everything we wanted for this campaign, timelessness, individuality, and quiet strength,” said one OMEGA executive at the Kyoto launch. “She doesn’t just wear the watch; she reflects the brand.”
The choice feels deliberate. Tems’ music at once soulful, experimental, and borderless, mirrors her public image: composed, cool, and compelling. Her rise on the global stage, from Lagos studios to Grammy wins and Oscar nominations, makes her a natural fit for a luxury brand seeking voices with both authenticity and global resonance.
It also places her in rare company. Luxury houses have often leaned heavily on Hollywood and European stars to embody their ideals of elegance and legacy. Tems’ appointment offers a different narrative: that African talent is not only worthy of recognition but central to the future of global culture.
The Kyoto reveal carried that symbolism. Beneath the city’s storied temples and gardens, OMEGA introduced its watches against a backdrop of tradition and modernity — a theme that mirrored Tems herself: a Nigerian artist shaping a new sound while carrying the quiet confidence of heritage.
For Nigerian pop culture, the moment is significant. The country’s music scene has already gone global with Afrobeats and genre-bending stars like Burna Boy and Wizkid. Now, fashion and luxury are following suit, with Tems standing as one of the movement’s most visible figures.
