HERE ARE 12 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT TEMS, THE FIRST NIGERIAN FEMALE MUSICIAN TO WIN A GRAMMY 

Did you know that in 2018, Tems quit her job to pursue a career in music, and on 18 July 2018, released her debut single, "Mr Rebel", a song which she produced by herself, before she released the much successful single "Try Me" on 7 August 2019?

On Sunday, February 5, 2023, Nigerian singer, Tems (whose real name is Temilade Openiyi) made history after becoming the first Nigerian female singer to win a Grammy at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards that held in Los Angeles, United States of America.

The said Grammy, which is her first, is for her work on Future’s song “Wait For U,” which also features Drake. With the win, the musical sensation triumphed over performers like Latto (“Big Energy (Live)”), Jack Harlow (“First Class”), Kendrick Lamar (“Die Hard”), and DJ Khaled in the category of Best Melodic Rap Performance.

“Wait For U” sampled Tems’ song “Higher,” which was a record off of her 2020 debut album For Broken Ears. “Wait For U'” was released on May 3, 2022, and was released as the second single from Future’s ninth studio album, I Never Liked You. Shortly after the record was released, Tems would receive praise and international recognition for her artistry, and a fleet of projects, including notable collaborations with mega stars like Beyoncé and Rihanna.

Here are some 10 fast facts to know about the 27-years old who has accomplished so much in the global music industry:

FACT 1

Temilade Openiyi (known professionally as Tems) was born on 11 June 1995 in Lagos, Nigeria to a Nigerian mother and a British-Nigerian father; she moved from Nigeria shortly after birth to the United Kingdom before returning at age 5, after her parents divorced.

FACT 2

In Lagos State, Tems resided in Ilupeju before moving to Lekki, then to Ajah. She attended Dowen College for secondary education and Monash, South Africa, for her tertiary education. While in school, her teacher noticed her music skill; she learned to play the piano and practised singing with her brother, often using his guitar accompaniment.

FACT 3

Tems first rose to prominence after she was featured on Wizkid's 2020 single "Essence," which reached the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 after the release of a remixed version with an additional feature from Justin Bieber, and earned her a Grammy Award nomination. That same year, she was featured on Drake's song, "Fountains."

FACT 4

On 25 September 2020, Tems released her debut extended play, For Broken Ears. She later released her second extended play, If Orange Was a Place (2021), after being signed to RCA Records.

FACT 5

Tems became the first African artist to debut at number one and the second Nigerian artist to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart on the song "Wait for U" by Future which sampled vocals from her song "Higher" and which led to her being credited as a featured artist alongside Drake. The song eventually earned her the Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance.

FACT 6

Tems covered Bob Marley's "No Woman, No Cry" for the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack, released in July 2022, which hit the number 1 spot on the Billboard Charts, and in the same month, her song "Free Mind" from her debut EP debuted on the Hot 100.

FACT 7

Throughout her career, asides her first Grammy Award, Tems has received many accolades, including two NAACP Image Awards, two BET Awards (becoming the 1st Nigerian female to win ‘Best International Act’ At BET Awards) and two Soul Train Music Awards.

FACT 8

Tems was also nominated for Album of the Year for her contribution to Beyoncé’s Renaissance album. She also co-wrote the song "Lift Me Up" by Rihanna, which earned her nominations for the Academy Award for Best Original Song, and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song.

FACT 9

Tems other list of achievements include her joining A-List celebrities on a Coca-Cola campaign, and became the first Nigerian artiste with the most Billboard Hot 100 appearances.

FACT 10

Tems, who described herself as a lone ranger, finds solitude in music at the tender age of 11. The “Try me” singer received a lot of assistance from her piano instructor. In an interview Tems claimed that she had initially thought her voice was too heavy for a girl, but after her teacher helped her improve it, she started to consider a career in music and finally made the risky move when she was 20.

FACT 11

On 14 December 2020, Tems, alongside fellow Nigerian singer Omah Lay, was arrested after they performed in a show in Uganda, an act which the Ugandan police authority identified as a violation of COVID-19 lockdown protocols. But the two artists felt they were set up. Two days later, the Ugandan government released them, apologised for the arrests, and dropped the charges.

FACT 12

Tems' mother only allowed her to listen to Christian music when she was a child. Later in her teenage years, she became interested in R&B and hip hop music. However, at the age of 15, she stopped listening to other artists in search of her own identity. Her voice has been described as deep, velvety, and androgynous. Her music reflects her melancholy personality, and she also had artists like Kate Nash, Lauryn Hill, Lil’ Kim, Paramore, OutKast, and Green Day made a significant influence on her sense of style.

Sources:

https://nairametrics.com/2023/02/06/nigerian-singer-tems-makes-history-as-first-nigerian-female-musician-to-win-a-grammy/

https://ameyawdebrah.com/tems-makes-history-with-oscar-nomination-for-original-song/

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tems