Tems

Tems is a Nigerian singer, songwriter and producer, born Temilade Openiyi, whose public profile spans Afrobeats and global popular music, major international collaborations, Grammy-winning recorded music, and film-song recognition. Her career markers include the EPs For Broken Ears and If Orange Was A Place, the debut album Born in the Wild, Wizkid’s “Essence,” Future and Drake’s “WAIT FOR U,” and songwriting credit on the Oscar-nominated “Lift Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

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About Tems

Profile information current to 2026-08-09.

Nigeria · Singer, Songwriter, Producer · 3 affiliations

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Also known as: Temilade Openiyi, Témìládè Openiyi
Known for: Afrobeats and global popular music; Grammy-winning recorded music; Film-song songwriting and awards recognition; Women-in-music initiative and sports-club ownership participation
Country: Nigeria

Singer
Songwriter
Producer

At a glance

Tems is identified by official and institutional sources as a Nigerian singer, songwriter and producer.
Her collaboration with Wizkid on “Essence” became a major crossover breakthrough and reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 after a Justin Bieber remix.
Grammy.com lists Tems with two Grammy wins, including Best Melodic Rap Performance for “WAIT FOR U” and Best African Music Performance for “Love Me JeJe.”
The Academy Awards database credits Tems on “Lift Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, nominated for Music Original Song at the 95th Academy Awards.
Beyond recording, Tems is listed as founder of The Leading Vibe Initiative and as a San Diego FC Club Partner in the club’s ownership group.

Background and entry into music

Golden Globes lists Tems as born Temilade Openiyi on June 11, 1995, in Lagos, Nigeria. GQ reports that she studied economics at Monash South Africa in Johannesburg, and later left an office or corporate job in 2018 to pursue music full time. Sony Music UK describes her as a self-taught producer, while GQ reports that she wrote, produced and released her debut single, “Mr Rebel,” in 2018.

Recording career and international reach

Tems released her debut EP, For Broken Ears, in 2020 and her second EP, If Orange Was A Place, in September 2021, according to RCA and Grammy.com materials. Her international recognition broadened through “Essence” with Wizkid, described in the supplied sources as a breakthrough record, and through “WAIT FOR U” with Future and Drake. Her debut album, Born in the Wild, was released in June 2024, and Sony Music Canada later announced the EP Love Is A Kingdom as released on November 21, 2025 via RCA Records/Since ’93.

Awards and film-song recognition

Tems won Best International Act at the 2022 BET Awards. Grammy.com lists her as winning Best Melodic Rap Performance in 2023 for “WAIT FOR U” with Future and Drake and Best African Music Performance in 2025 for “Love Me JeJe,” with further 2025 nominations for Born in the Wild and “Burning.” The Academy Awards database lists “Lift Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever as a 95th Academy Awards nominee for Music Original Song, crediting music by Tems, Rihanna, Ryan Coogler and Ludwig Göransson and lyric by Tems and Ryan Coogler.

Initiatives and wider public roles

The Leading Vibe Initiative describes itself as a platform founded by Tems to support, connect and amplify women in music through training, mentorship, industry access and community for women in music in Africa and beyond. In February 2025, San Diego FC announced that Tems had joined its ownership group as a Club Partner through The Leading Vibe, and the club’s ownership page identifies her as a partner.

Affiliations

RCA Records / Since ’93 Release affiliation for recent Tems releases present
San Diego FC Club Partner; member of ownership group 2025-02–present
The Leading Vibe Initiative Founder present

Timeline

1995-06-11 Born Temilade Openiyi in Lagos, Nigeria, according to Golden Globes.
2018 Quit office or corporate work to pursue music full time.
2018 Released debut single “Mr Rebel,” which GQ reports she wrote and produced.
2020 Released debut EP For Broken Ears.
2020 Collaborated with Wizkid on “Essence,” which became a crossover hit and later reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 after the Justin Bieber remix.
2021-09 Released second EP If Orange Was A Place.
2022-06-26 Won Best International Act at the BET Awards.
2023 Won Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance for “WAIT FOR U” with Future and Drake.
2023 Was credited as a writer/composer on the Oscar-nominated song “Lift Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
2024-06 Released debut album Born in the Wild.
2025-02 Joined San Diego FC’s ownership group as a Club Partner through The Leading Vibe.
2025 Won Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance for “Love Me JeJe.”
2025-11-21 Released EP Love Is A Kingdom via RCA Records/Since ’93.

Additional verified details

Current context

As of the accessed Grammy.com profile, Tems is listed with 2 Grammy wins and 8 nominations. Award counts can change after future Grammy cycles.
Recent official Sony/RCA sources list Tems releases via RCA Records/Since ’93. Release-level credits are better supported than a broad statement about current contract status.
San Diego FC’s ownership page identifies Tems as a partner of San Diego FC. Ownership stakes and partner lists may change; official club materials do not state stake size or financial terms in the supplied evidence.
The Leading Vibe Initiative is active online and describes itself as a Tems-founded platform for women in music. Program locations and dates should be rechecked before publication because the site says next program details are to be announced.
Sony Music Canada announced Love Is A Kingdom as a Tems EP released on November 21, 2025. This is the latest official release verified in the supplied research set, not a comprehensive discography audit.

Biographical facts

Golden Globes lists Tems as born on June 11, 1995 in Lagos, Nigeria, with birth name Temilade Openiyi.
GQ reports that Tems studied economics at Monash South Africa in Johannesburg.
In 2018, Tems quit a corporate or office job to pursue music full time.
Sony Music UK describes Tems as a self-taught producer.
GQ reports that after quitting her job, Tems wrote, produced and released her debut single, “Mr Rebel,” in 2018.
Tems released her debut EP, For Broken Ears, in 2020.
Tems released her second EP, If Orange Was A Place, in September 2021.
Tems’ collaboration with Wizkid on “Essence” was a major breakthrough and reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 after a Justin Bieber remix.
Born in the Wild is Tems’ debut album and was released in June 2024.
Sony Music Canada announced Tems’ EP Love Is A Kingdom as released on November 21, 2025 via RCA Records/Since ’93.
Tems won Best International Act at the 2022 BET Awards.
Tems won the 2023 Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance for “WAIT FOR U” with Future and Drake.
Tems won the 2025 Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance for “Love Me JeJe.”
Born in the Wild was nominated for the 2025 Grammy Award for Best Global Music Album.
“Burning” was nominated for the 2025 Grammy Award for Best R&B Song.
The Academy Awards database lists “Lift Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever as a 95th Academy Awards nominee for Music Original Song, with music by Tems, Rihanna, Ryan Coogler and Ludwig Göransson, and lyric by Tems and Ryan Coogler.
Golden Globes identifies Tems as having co-written and performed “Lift Me Up” for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever; San Diego FC describes her work on the song as having earned Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations.
Billboard Canada reported that Tems received Billboard Women in Music’s Breakthrough Award in March 2024.
The Leading Vibe Initiative says it is a platform founded by Tems to support, connect and amplify women in music through training, mentorship, industry access and community for women in music in Africa and beyond.