The Nigerian singer and composer Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has made history by becoming the first woman Nigerian artist to sell more than 10 million units in the United States.
The feat was confirmed on Tuesday by the data on the list on X, which announced that “Wait for U”, the collaborative success of Tems with the US Future and Drake stars, had officially crossed the sales brand of 10 million in the United States.
The song, which won a Grammy award for the best performance of melodic rap, adds to its growing list of international achievements. Tems had previously become the first African female artist to overcome one billion currents in Spotify, underlining his dominance on the global stage.
The increase in international prominence after presenting in Wizkid’s “essence” in 2020, Tems has been established as one of the most influential voices in Africa.
Also read: South Africa, the main high-performance parliaments of South Africa in Africa-report
He began his career in 2018 with his simple debut “Mr Rebel” and since then he has obtained multiple praise, including Bet Awards and Naacp Image Awards.
Currently in its 2025–2026 world tour, which began on September 28, Tems will be presented in cities such as Nairobi, Salvador (Brazil) and Los Angeles, where the Dodger Stadium will lead.
His record achieves follows Wizkid’s, who is still the first Nigerian male artist to reach the milestone when Riaa certified his function in “One Dance” of Drake in 2022.
The last triumph of Tems achieves its status as a pioneer for African women in music, inspiring a new generation of artists and further solidifying Nigeria’s global presence in the entertainment industry.
Also read the main stories of Nigerian Tribune
Watch the best Nigerian Tribune TV videos