Nigerian Superstar, Temilade Openiyi, better known as Tems, has become the first Nigerian recording artiste in history to debut at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
Her recent achievement is coming following her collaboration with international rappers Drake and Future on the song ‘Wait For U,’ which appears on Future’s LP album ‘I Never Liked You.’
The single ‘Wait for U’ debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 – Future’s second, Drake’s tenth, and Tems’ first.
In 2021, Tems’ collaboration with Wizkid earned her a Billboard Top 10 hit. With ‘Essence,’ Wizkid became the first African musician to have a song in the Top 10 Billboard chart as a lead artist, and Tems’ first Top 10 hit.
Tems is a Nigerian singer and songwriter born in Lagos on 11th July 1995 into a family of a Nigerian mum and British father. Her father left her mum when she was 5, so she was raised by her single mum.She had her primary education which in Lagos and attended Dowen College afterwards.
She later moved to Johannesburg to study Economics in a South African university.she discovered her music talent after she joined a local choir .she recorded songs with her school choir and practiced with her brother’s guitar. She grew up singing in her church choir in 2009 and rose to become one of the young famous singers in Nigeria.
The success of her 2019’s Try Me saw her emerge into a big name in the music industry. Also, the fact that in 2020,she released a song with American musician Khalid and Nigerian hip hop start, Davido, she landed herself right in the hall of fame.
Her collaboration with DJ Khalid in a single titled “Know Your Worth”. The uplifting music “Know Your Worth” also featured Nigerian superstar, Davido, and Disclosure and made it to Barack Obama’s playlist for summer 2020.
In 2019, Tems was nominated for the Best Vocal Performance (Female) and Best Alternative Song for her single “Mr. Rebel”, during the Headies award.
Her net worth is an estimated $100,000.
Story: Hilda Katu
CLICK NAIJA 2022