Nigerian singer and songwriter Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has once again made history by winning the Best African Music Performance award at the 67th Grammy Awards held on Sunday at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
The 29-year-old artist secured the prestigious award with her hit song “Love Me Jeje,” surpassing a competitive field of top African musicians. This marks her second Grammy win**, making her the most awarded Nigerian artist in Grammy history.
Upon receiving the award, an emotional Tems expressed gratitude, saying:
*”Dear God, thank you so much for putting me on this stage and bringing me this team.”
She also dedicated the win to her mother, acknowledging the support she has received throughout her career.
Tems first gained international recognition in 2023 when she won her first Grammy for Best Melodic Rap Performance with American rappers Future and Drake for the song “Wait For U.”
Tems’ success in the global music industry has been remarkable. In just five years, she has built a solid fan base and collaborated with top artists, including Drake, Rihanna, and Future.
Her Grammy-winning song “Love Me Jeje” samples the 1997 classic hit by Seyi Sodimu, blending nostalgic African pop with contemporary R&B and Afrobeats. The track became a massive success, topping the UK Afrobeats Chart and reaching No. 3 on Billboard’s US Afrobeats Songs Chart.
Beyond this win, Tems was also nominated in two other Grammy categories:
– Best Global Music Album for her debut album *Born in the Wild
– Best R&B Song for Burning
Her album Born in the Wild faced competition from international stars like Matt B and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, showcasing her increasing influence in global music.
Tems’ Grammy win reinforces Nigeria’s dominance in the global music industry. Other top Nigerian artists like Asake, Burna Boy, Davido, Yemi Alade, Wizkid, and Rema were also nominated, highlighting the international appeal of Afrobeats.
With two Grammy wins and growing global recognition, Tems has solidified her place as one of the most influential African artists of her generation.
