How a Nigerian singer became the first African artist to debut at No. 1
In short: From being bullied for her voice in high school to dominating global charts, Tems has redefined the reach of Afrobeats. Her rise includes groundbreaking milestones, such as becoming the first Nigerian artist to win multiple Grammy Awards and the first African woman to hold partial ownership in an MLS team.
Born Temilade Openiyi in Lagos, Nigeria, in 1995, Tems's journey from a student of economics at Monash South Africa to a global superstar is marked by a deliberate pursuit of musical identity. After quitting a digital marketing job in 2018, she began teaching herself production via YouTube. Her breakthrough came through collaborations, notably on Wizkid's 2020 single "Essence," which reached number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100. She is of Yoruba ethnicity and spent part of her childhood living in the United Kingdom. Before moving to Lekki and Ajah, she resided in Ilupeju. Her secondary education was completed at Dowen College.
Tems has consistently broken barriers for African artists on the global stage. In 2022, her feature on Future's "Wait for U" saw the song debut at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, making her the first African female artist to achieve this feat. Her 2020 debut EP, For Broken Ears, was primarily produced by the artist herself. This project included the hit single Damages, which reached number one on the Nigerian Apple Music chart. She also collaborated with Drake on the track Fountains.
Her influence extends beyond the recording studio into business and film. In 2022, she contributed to the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack, earning nominations for Best Original Song at the Academy Awards and Golden Globes for her work on Rihanna's "Lift Me Up." By 2025, she expanded her portfolio further, becoming the first African woman to join the ownership group of a Major League Soccer team, the San Diego FC. Her musical style was shaped by listening to artists like Lauryn Hill and Adele during her teenage years. She even performed at the 2023 NBA All-Star Game halftime show. Additionally, she was featured on an Apple Music radio show in 2022.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Tems
- Also: Wikidata — Tems · CC0
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