Nigerian singer and songwriter Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has achieved another milestone in her international career, becoming the first Nigerian female artist to sell over 10 million units in the United States.
The record-breaking feat was confirmed on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, by Chart Data on X (formerly Twitter), which announced that her Grammy-winning collaboration with Future and Drake, WAIT FOR U, had officially crossed the 10 million sales mark.
This achievement places Tems among an elite group of global artists, solidifying her impact on the international stage. She recently added another first to her name by becoming the first African female artist to surpass one billion streams on Spotify.
Tems’ rise to global prominence began in 2020 with her breakout feature on Wizkid’s hit song Essence. Since then, she has amassed multiple accolades, including Grammy Awards, and embarked on a world tour covering Africa, South America, and the United States.
For context, Wizkid became the first Nigerian male artist to reach a similar milestone following the Diamond certification of Drake’s One Dance in 2022.
“Women Are Not Respected in the Music Industry” — Tems
Alongside celebrating her record-breaking success, Tems has also spoken candidly about the struggles women face in the music industry.
In an interview with BBC on Tuesday, the Grammy winner revealed that women are often overlooked, disrespected, and not taken seriously, making it harder for them to thrive in the industry.
“I just found out that people don’t really respect women a lot in the music industry. It was difficult to find people to take me seriously, but it didn’t mean I stopped. I wanted to redefine the perspective that women have of themselves,” she said.
Tems also highlighted her initiative, The Leading Vibe Initiative, a project aimed at empowering women across different roles in music — not just as artists, but also as producers, audio engineers, instrumentalists, and managers.
She stressed the importance of women embracing their individuality and resisting pressures to change their style or sound just to gain acceptance.
“When people tell you to change your style and sound, you look at them and say so. If it means me not being signed, I’m okay with that,” she added.
Tems explained that her commitment to this project is personal, as she hopes to inspire women to see themselves thriving in spaces where they are often underrepresented.
“I needed it to be known that women can be in any space that they want,” she stated.
With her groundbreaking achievements and outspoken advocacy, Tems continues to redefine what it means to be a woman in global music.
