Tems’ journey from a rising artist in Lagos to one of the most influential global voices in music isn’t just inspiring. It might make her the biggest musical export Africa has ever produced. From making cameos on SDC projects to her first single, to her last project, the trajectory of Tems’ career has always been one of intentionality from the get-go. Being one of the mot distinct voices in modern day music, it’s hard to ignore the fact that this woman was always destined for greatness, she just needed the opportunity.
The Song That Put Her on the Map
Temilade Openiyi, known to the world simply as Tems, started quietly but memorably. Before the global wave, she released songs like Mr Rebel and Try Me in 2018 and 2019 which got her noticed locally and online for her haunting vocals and fearless songwriting. That early momentum set the stage for something even bigger.
Everything changed in 2020 when she was featured on Wizkid’s global Afrobeats anthem Essence. The song did not just become a hit. It crossed continents, entered the Billboard Hot 100 Top 10, earned Grammy nominations, and later received a remix with Justin Bieber. Essence became one of the most important Afrobeats records of the streaming era, and Tems’ voice was at the heart of it.
This very moment was the launchpad to stardom.
Her Journey After Essence
From that turning point, Tems’ rise accelerated rapidly. She appeared on Drake’s Fountains from Certified Lover Boy, introducing her to the biggest commercial market(US) in music. Then came Wait For U with Future and Drake, built around a sample of her own song Higher. The record debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, making her the first African artist to debut at the top of that chart.
She later co-wrote Rihanna’s Lift Me Up for Black Panther Wakanda Forever, earning Oscar and Golden Globe nominations. In 2024, her debut album Born in the Wild expanded her global footprint, and the single Love Me JeJe won Best African Music Performance at the Grammy Awards. Most recently, she appeared on J Cole’s album The Fall Off, her ability to flow on songs regardless of the genre is her greatest strength.
The Deals That Made It Possible
A global career can’t be built or sustained by talent alone. Strategy, structure and vision matter. Tems’ early management team, including Muyiwa Awoniyi, Wale Davies and The Leading Vibe, played a crucial role in shaping her positioning and protecting her artistic identity while building international bridges.
In September 2021, she signed with RCA Records, giving her access to global distribution, marketing power and major collaborations. She also signed with Creative Artists Agency (CAA) for worldwide representation, strengthening her touring, brand partnerships and international visibility. These moves provided the infrastructure needed to scale her sound beyond Africa.
Reflection of Her Global Recognition
Tems’ global dominance reflects clearly in numbers and honours. Wait For U debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and has generated massive worldwide streams. Across platforms, her catalogue has accumulated billions of streams, with multiple records crossing major global milestones. These figures indicate not only popularity, but continuous global demand.
🚨Future, Drake & Tems’ “Wait For U” has now surpassed 1 BILLION streams on Spotify.
— Tems marks history as the 1st female African act & 3rd African act to achieve this milestone. pic.twitter.com/gLb5KxPLlx— HYPETRIBE (@hypetribeng) February 15, 2025
Her awards validate that impact. She is a multiple Grammy winner, including Best African Music Performance, and has received recognition from the BET Awards, NAACP Image Awards, Soul Train Music Awards and American Music Awards. These achievements display how deeply her music resonates internationally and how strongly African music now sits within mainstream global culture.
What Tems Has Done for Afrobeats
Tems represents a new dimension of Afrobeats. Her sound fuses soul, alternative R and B, and African rhythms in a way that expands what the genre can be. She has helped show that African artists are not just regional stars but can fully be global cultural leaders.
Her success has influenced label investment in African talent, expanded playlist inclusion and given more global attention to afrobeats with each new milestone achieved.
Is She the Biggest Musical Export from Africa Yet?
When you measure chart performance, global collaborations, award recognition, streaming dominance and cultural impact, Tems is firmly in that conversation. From Billboard history to Grammy wins to blockbuster soundtracks, her career has been marked by historic achievements and consistent global relevance.
Whether she is definitively the biggest musical export from Africa may remain a topic of debate. But what is undeniable is this, Tems has become one of the most powerful African voices in global music.