Tems

Temilade Openiyi, known professionally as Tems, was born on June 11, 1995, in Lagos, Nigeria. Her early life included a period in the United Kingdom before her family returned to Nigeria following her parents’ divorce when she was five. She grew up in Ilupeju, later moving to Lekki and Ajah, and attended Dowen College for secondary education before earning an economics degree from Monash South Africa. Tems’ musical journey began in high school, where she was encouraged by a music teacher to develop her vocal talents and learn piano, overcoming initial shyness about her voice. She practiced with her brother, who often played guitar alongside her. After graduating, Tems decided to pursue music full-time in 2018, leaving a career in digital marketing. She began teaching herself music production through online resources like YouTube, which led to the self-produced release of her debut single, “Mr Rebel,” on July 18, 2018. This pivotal moment marked the start of her professional music career.

Her career gained significant momentum with the release of her single “Try Me” in August 2019. In 2020, Tems was identified as one of DJ Edu’s “ten artists to watch.” That same year, she collaborated with Khalid and Disclosure on a reworked version of “Know Your Worth” and released her debut EP, “For Broken Ears,” which included the hit single “Damages.” The EP proved successful, with “Damages” reaching number one on the Nigerian Apple Music chart and gaining five million YouTube views. A major breakthrough occurred when she was featured on Wizkid’s “Essence” in October 2020, which earned her a BBC 1Xtra Airplay Chart number one spot and her first entry on the Billboard Hot 100. This collaboration led to Grammy and NAACP Image Award nominations. Tems signed with RCA Records in 2021, releasing her second EP, “If Orange Was a Place,” featuring the UK Afrobeats Singles Chart hit “Crazy Tings.” She also made her mark on Drake’s album “Certified Lover Boy” by featuring on the track “Fountains,” further solidifying her international presence.

The period between 2022 and 2024 marked Tems’ full emergence as a global artist. In April 2022, her vocals from “Higher” were sampled in Future’s “Wait for U,” which debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100, making her the first African female artist to achieve this milestone. She also contributed to the “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” soundtrack with a cover of “No Woman, No Cry” and co-wrote Rihanna’s “Lift Me Up,” earning nominations for an Academy Award, Golden Globe, and Grammy. Tems received a Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance for “Wait for U” in February 2023, becoming the first female Nigerian artist to win a Grammy. She headlined the 2023 NBA All-Star Game Afrobeats halftime show and was recognized on the 2023 Time 100 Next list. In 2024, she released her critically acclaimed debut studio album, “Born in the Wild,” which garnered three Grammy nominations, winning Best African Music Performance for “Love Me JeJe.” This made her the first Nigerian artist with multiple Grammy Awards. Her entrepreneurial ventures also expanded, as she became the first African woman to hold part ownership in a Major League Soccer team, joining the San Diego FC ownership group in 2025.