Tems Has Set These 8 Incredible Records

Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has opened doors, motivated a new generation of artists, and shown that the African voice can be heard around the world.

Having quit her career in digital marketing in 2018 to focus on music, Tems has not only made a name for herself but also proved that even in an industry where female artists face greater hurdles, talent and artistry transcend gender.

Records Set By Tems in Africa

First African Female Artist with Over 1 Billion Spotify Streams

Tems’s one billion streams were propelled by Future’s 2022 album “I Never Liked You,” which had the song “Wait For U.”

Her 2020 single “Higher” is interpolated into the song, which swiftly gained popularity and won her a Grammy for Best Melodic Rap Performance in 2023.

More significantly, this song made her the first female African artist to be accepted into Spotify’s Billion Club.

Future’s and Drake’s distinctive delivery combined with Tems’ ethereal vocals to create a song that cut across boundaries.

The fact that her song served as the centerpiece of the record added to its uniqueness.

First Nigerian Artist to Reach No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100

Tems is the only Nigerian to debut at the top of the Billboard Hot 100, accomplishing this feat in 2022 with “Wait 4 U.”

Before attaining this height, Tems had earlier debuted at number 82 on the same chart as a featured artist on Wizkid’s “Essence,” and “Move” by Beyonce feat. Grace Jones & Tems debuted at number 55 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

“Free Mind” by Tems debuted at number 46, and “Fountains” by Drake featuring Tems debuted at number 26.

First Nigerian Female Artist to Get an Oscar Nomination

Tems became the first artist from Nigeria to receive an Oscar nomination from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts in 2023.

Her contribution to Rihanna’s performance of “Lift Me Up,” the original soundtrack from Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song.

First African Female Artist to Co-write a Marvel Movie Song

Rihanna, Tems, and Oscar winner Ludwig Göransson wrote the song “Lift Me Up” for the Marvel movie “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”

The official movie trailer also used Tems’ other song, “No Woman No Cry,” which is a rendition of the reggae song by Bob Marley and the Wailers.

First African Female Artist Involved in MLS Ownership

Tems created history earlier this month by joining San Diego FC, a Major League Soccer (MLS) team, as a co-owner.

She became the first African woman to own stock in an MLS team through her business, The Leading Vibe.

First African Artist to Win Two BET Awards in One Night

Tems made history when “Essence remix” featuring Tems & Justin Bieber won “Best Collaboration” at the 2022 BET Awards to become the first African song to win in a major category at the BET Awards.

That same night, her collaboration in Future and Drake’s ‘Wait For You’ also picked up the Best International Artist Award, making her the first Afrobeats artist to take home two BET Awards in one night.

First Nigerian Artist to Win the “Best African Music Performance” category at Grammys

At this just-concluded 67th Grammy Awards held on February 2nd, 2025, Tems became the first Nigerian performer to win the Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance.

The song “Love Me Jeje” from her debut album Born in the Wild was the winner in the category.

First Nigerian Female Artist with Over 10 Million Spotify Monthly Listeners

Tems was also the first female artist in Nigeria and Africa to cross the milestone of 10 million monthly listeners in September 2021 and, at the moment, has over 18 million.

In the end, Tems’ victory is a turning point for Nigerian music rather than only a personal achievement.

Her accomplishments upend antiquated industrial narratives, validate the value of teamwork, and reaffirm the need for international exposure.

Most significantly, it acts as a ray of hope for the upcoming generation of Nigerian artists, particularly women, who can now imagine a world in which their skills are acknowledged and compensated on the highest platforms.