Singer Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has made history as the first Nigerian female artist to sell over 10 million units in the United States.
The feat was confirmed on X by by Chart Data.
Tems’ Grammy-winning collaboration with Future and Drake, ‘Wait For U’, played a major role in achieving the milestone. The track, released in 2022, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and later won a Grammy for Best Melodic Rap Performance.
The 29-year-old rose to international fame after featuring on Wizkid’s 2020 hit ‘Essence’, which became the first Nigerian song to break into the Billboard Hot 100 top 10.
Tems went on to co-write Rihanna’s ‘Lift Me Up’ for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in 2022, a song that earned Golden Globe and Oscar nominations. She was also featured on Beyoncé’s ‘Move’ and has become one of the most sought-after African artists globally.
In June 2024, she released her debut album Born in the Wild, which peaked at No. 56 on the Billboard 200 – the highest chart position for a Nigerian female artist at the time. The album also produced hits such as ‘Love Me JeJe’, which earned her a Grammy in 2025 for Best African Music Performance.
