Tems Hits Billion Streams, Makes African Female Artist History

Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has made history by becoming the first African female artist to surpass 1 billion streams on Spotify. This milestone was achieved through her collaboration with Future and Drake on the 2022 hit single ‘Wait For U,’ which samples her 2020 track ‘Higher’ from the EP For Broken Ears.

Upon its release, “Wait For U” debuted at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, making Tems the first African artist to achieve this feat. 

The song’s success continued with a Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance in 2023. 

Tems’ is no doubt a trailblazer in the music industry and this milestone highlights Tems’ remarkable rise to international superstardom since her breakthrough in 2020.  She has collaborated with major artists like Beyoncé and Drake, and has earned numerous accolades, including a 2X Grammy award and an Oscar nomination in 2023.