Tems, whose real name is Temilade Openiyi, has made history in the music world. She is now the first female Nigerian artist to have a single sell over 10 million copies in the United States.
This achievement was confirmed on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, by Chart Data on X (which used to be called Twitter). The report stated that “WAIT FOR U”, her popular song with American rappers Future and Drake, officially sold more than 10 million units in the US.
The song has already brought Tems international recognition. It even won her a Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance, proving her talent on the world stage. This new milestone shows that her influence in the global music industry continues to grow.
Tems has also broken another huge record. She is the first African female artist to reach one billion streams on Spotify, one of the world’s biggest music platforms. This highlights her rising power and popularity among music lovers worldwide.
Her journey to fame began in 2018 when she released her first single, Mr Rebel. But she became truly known worldwide in 2020 after being featured on Wizkid’s hit song Essence. That track entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US and received multiple Grammy nominations.
Tems often shares her love for her fans. After performing in Kenya recently, she posted on X saying:
“Kenya! The love has been insane! I love you so much. Till next time.”
Right now, Tems is on her 2025–2026 world tour, which started on September 28 and will continue until November 15. She is performing in different countries and cities, including Nairobi (Kenya), Salvador (Brazil), and Los Angeles (USA), where she will have a special show at the Dodger Stadium.
When it comes to Nigerian music stars, Tems is not alone in breaking records. Wizkid, another global Nigerian superstar, was the first male Nigerian artist to achieve the same milestone. His feature on Drake’s One Dance was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2022 after selling more than 10 million copies in the US.
With all her success, Tems has truly become a trailblazer for African women in music. She has won several major international awards, including BET Awards, NAACP Image Awards, and a Soul Train Music Award.
Her story is an inspiration, showing how an artist from Lagos, Nigeria, has risen to shine brightly on the world stage.
