Tems
Singer, Songwriter, Record Producer
Biography
Temilade Openiyi, called Tems, is a Nigerian singer and producer who became famous for her deep voice and special style. She was born in Lagos on June 11, 1995. She mixes R&B with African beats to make her own music.
Tems became known worldwide in 2020 after singing on the song "Essence" with Wizkid. She grew even more popular by working with stars like Drake and Future. Her song with Future reached the top of the music charts, making her the first African artist to do so. In 2022, she won a Grammy Award for that performance.
Besides singing, Tems writes and makes her own songs. She also sang for big movies, like her version of "No Woman, No Cry" for Black Panther. She even helped write Rihanna’s song "Lift Me Up." Tems keeps changing music and helping other artists follow their dreams.
Early Life
Tems was born on June 11, 1995, in Lagos, Nigeria. Her father is British-Nigerian and her mother is Nigerian. When she was five, her parents split up. She moved to Ilupeji with her mother and brother. Tems also lived in Lekki and Ajah.
She loved music from a young age. She sang in a church choir to practice her voice. At school, she learned the piano. She also sang while her brother played guitar. Artists like Adele and Beyoncé made her want to become a singer.
After high school, she went to Monash South Africa University. She earned a degree in Economics. Even though she studied business, she still wanted to make music. In 2018, the 23-year-old left her job to focus on her dream. That year, she wrote and made her first song, "Mr. Rebel."
Career
Tems started her music career in 2018 when she made and sang her first song, "Mr. Rebel." A year later, she put out "Try Me," which helped more people in Nigeria learn who she was. Her fame grew quickly in 2020 after she sang on Wizkid's song "Essence." That track became a huge hit worldwide, especially after Justin Bieber joined a new version that hit number nine on the American charts. This success led to her first Grammy nod and made her famous globally.
That same year, she worked with Davido and put out her first short album called "For Broken Ears." People loved its fresh sound and deep words. In 2021, she joined RCA Records and released another short album, "If Orange Was a Place," which sold well. She also topped lists for the best new musicians.
In 2022, the rapper Future used her voice from the song "Higher" for his hit "Wait for U." It started at number one on the charts, making her the first African singer to reach the top spot right away. This song won her a Grammy Award. Tems also sang for movies, like her version of "No Woman, No Cry" for Black Panther. She helped write Rihanna's song "Lift Me Up" for the same film, which earned her Oscar and Golden Globe nods.
By 2024, she put out her first full album, "Born in the Wild," and traveled the world to perform it. At the 2025 Grammy Awards, she won three prizes for her singing and songwriting. Having won many other honors, she is now one of the most famous stars of her time.
Personal Life
Tems stays quiet about her private life even though she is famous. She grew up in Lagos, Nigeria, with her brother. Her parents split up when she was little, so her mother mostly raised them. Tems says her family helps her a lot with her work.
She does not talk about who she dates. While some people online guess about her boyfriends, she never says if those stories are true. Right now, it seems she is single and cares most about her songs.
She acts like a normal person and works very hard. On social media, she shows fans how she writes music and records in the studio, but she keeps her friends and partners a secret. Even though she travels the world, she stays proud of her home country. She also gives money to help children in Nigeria go to school. Many young people look up to her because she followed her dreams and won.
Fun Facts
She finished her studies in Economics at the University of Lagos before making music her job.
Her song "Essence" became famous worldwide and put her in the running for a Grammy Award.
She won a Grammy for singing with Future on the track "Wait for U."
She makes her own songs, which shows she can do many things well.
Tems is the first person from Africa to have a song start at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
She sang her own version of "No Woman, No Cry" for the movie Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
She helped write the song "Lift Me Up" for Rihanna, which was up for several big prizes like an Oscar.
She put out her first short album in 2020 and a second one the next year.
Tems joined RCA Records in 2021, making her a permanent name in music globally.
In 2021, she reached the top spots on lists for new and rising stars.
Tems is Yoruba and grew up in Lagos, Nigeria.
Her father is British-Nigerian and her mother is Nigerian.
She learned how to play piano and guitar when she was a student.
She began singing in a church group as a young girl.
Tems put out her first song "Mr. Rebel" in 2018 and made the beat herself.
She sang on a track with Drake in 2020, which helped more people around the world hear her.
People know her for her deep, smooth voice.
She has been up for many awards from groups like BET and the NAACP.
She released her first full album in 2024, and experts loved it.
She went on a big trip to perform her new songs for fans in 2024.
Tems won three Grammy Awards in 2025, including one for the best African song.
She is the first African woman to win the Best International prize at the BET Awards.
She is known for wearing unique clothes and picking bold looks.
She cares about mental health and speaks about looking after oneself.
Tems keeps opening doors for other African singers in the global music world.