Los Angeles, CA – Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, secured her second Grammy win at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards, claiming the Best African Music Performance category for her song Love Me JeJe.
A Heartfelt Acceptance Speech
During her emotional acceptance speech, Tems expressed deep gratitude for her journey and those who have supported her. She dedicated the award to her mother, whose birthday coincided with the momentous occasion.
“Dear God, thank you so much for putting me on this stage and bringing me this team. Tomorrow is my mum’s birthday, and this is her first Grammys. I just want to thank you, mum, because she’s really done a lot for me and my brother. I want to thank my team—thank you so much. To God be the glory, because honestly, He’s changed my life so much. Thank you so much, thank you God,” she said.
A Competitive Category
Tems triumphed in a strong category that featured some of Africa’s biggest artists. The nominees for Best African Music Performance included:
- Tomorrow – Yemi Alade
- MMS – Asake & Wizkid
- Sensational – Chris Brown ft. Davido & Lojay
- Higher – Burna Boy
Tems’ Rise to Global Stardom
Tems first gained international recognition in 2020 with her feature on Wizkid’s global hit Essence, which later received a remix featuring Justin Bieber. The song peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned her a Grammy nomination. That same year, she collaborated with Drake on Fountains, further cementing her presence in the global music industry.
Her debut EP, For Broken Ears (2020), introduced her unique alté sound, followed by If Orange Was a Place (2021) after signing with RCA Records. In 2022, Future sampled her song Higher for his track Wait for U, which featured Drake and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. This made Tems the first African artist to debut atop the chart. The song later won Best Melodic Rap Performance at the 2023 Grammy Awards, marking her first Grammy win.
Continued Success and Global Impact
Tems’ influence extended beyond music charts. She covered Bob Marley’s No Woman, No Cry for the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack and co-wrote Rihanna’s Lift Me Up, which earned her Academy Award, Golden Globe, and Grammy nominations.
Her single Free Mind also became a record-breaking hit on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart. In 2024, she released her highly anticipated debut studio album, Born in the Wild, which received critical acclaim and charted in multiple countries, including the UK, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. The success of the album led to her Born in the Wild world tour.
At the 2025 Grammy Awards, Tems earned three nominations:
- Best African Music Performance (Love Me JeJe) – Winner
- Best R&B Song (Burning)
- Best Global Music Album (Born in the Wild)
A Leading Figure in African Music
With two Grammy wins and numerous accolades—including BET, NAACP Image, and Soul Train Music Awards—Tems continues to solidify her position as one of Africa’s most influential female artists on the global stage.
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