Social media reacts as Tems wins Best African Music Performance award at Grammy

Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, also known as Tems, won the Best African Music Performance award for her song “Love Me JeJe” at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards 2025. Sunday’s win at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles is only her second Grammy.

The popular singer first won a Grammy in 2023, winning Best Melodic Rap Performance for her collaboration on Future’s Wait For You, featuring Drake. The award was won in a highly competitive category that included Yemi Alade’s Tomorrow, Asake and Wizkid’s MMS, Chris Brown’s Sensational featuring Davido and Lojay, and Burna Boy’s Higher.

With this win, Tems also becomes the first Nigerian artist to win the Best African Music Performance award, the first Nigerian female artist to win the award, and the most-awarded Nigerian artist in Grammy history.

Grammy introduced the Best African Music Performance category last year, which saw South African star Tyla win it with her hit single ‘Water’

In her speech, reacting to the award, Tems expressed her delight and showered appreciation for those who supported her through the journey.

“Dear God, thank you so much for putting me on this stage and bringing me this team. Tomorrow is my mum’s birthday, and this is her first Grammys. I just want to thank you, mum, because she’s really done a lot for me and my brother. I want to thank my team—thank you so much. To God be the glory, because honestly, He’s changed my life so much. Thank you so much, thank you God,” she expressed.  

Social media reactions

Meanwhile, mixed reactions have continued to circulate on social media X (formerly Twitter). Presidential candidate of the Labour Party at the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi took the opportunity to celebrate Nigerian youths, describing his elation at their successes across various fields, especially in the entertainment sector.

“I like therefore to extend my hearty congratulations to our Nigerian Afrobeats star, Tems who just secured her second Grammy Award with her win in the Best African Music Performance category. I also rejoice with Nigeria’s entertainment industry and other Nigerian artists who were nominated for different awards in their respective categories. Undoubtedly, Nigeria remains home to the endless flow of talents who through their creative arts, continue to put the nation on the global map,” the former candidate said.

Another user, Chinasa Anukam (@OriginalBabyGirl) pointed out how Tems’ success is a lesson to young African women noting that: “Tem’s success is just so personal to me. Because it’s so important that African women know (and see) that anything is possible for us.”

Another user, Oluwatosin Olaseinde rendered a brief history of the award-winner’s professional career, noting that before becoming a singer, she worked as a digital marketer and only quit her job in 2018 to pursue a full-time career in music. She went on to list all the jobs the music ace had done on her way to becoming the superstar she currently is. She finally advised readers to believe in their dreams and invest in the long term.

“Please do not stop believing in your dreams, what seed are you sowing today that you will thank yourself for in the next 5 to 10 years? It’s a long-term game,” she finished.

On a lighter note, Dami Adenuga expressed his delight that it was Tems who won rather than the likes of Burna Boy and Davido whose huge and ever-feuding fanbases would have ensured a firestorm on the timeline.

“I think Tems winning the award is the best outcome for all Nigerians. There will be no fanbase war today,” he said.

There are, however, other users who remain sceptical about the award and its recipient. One tweep, @gistvine criticized the award. stating: “This like Ballon D’or creating a category for best African player. Why not allow them to compete against others.”

Another tweep, @iammesomatado, felt the singer and her song were undeserving of the award. 

“That’s not deserving tbh, should have been Davido X Chris brown sensational.”

Also, @DeYork02 reacted negatively stating: “I don’t understand. What does this girl do to deserve the award?”

Another User, @smily_clare, in his own remarks mimicked the victory while making satirical conversation of the victory to that of Taylor Swift.

“Music performance winner is wild. She’s like the Taylor Swift of Nigeria, winning awards for what she clearly doesn’t deserve.”

More on Tems

Tems gained international recognition in 2020 when she was featured on Wizkid’s hit single Essence. The song became a global sensation and peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 earning her a Grammy nomination, shortly after receiving a remix featuring Justin Bieber. Amidst those moments, she collaborated with Drake on Fountains which further solidified her presence in the global music industry.

The Nigeria Singer’s debut EP, “For Broken Ears” (2020), introduced her unique sound, followed by “If Orange Was a Place” (2021) after signing with RCA Records. In 2022, Future sampled her song Higher for his track “Wait for U”, which featured Drake and credited Tems as a featured artist.

The song debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, making her the first African artist to debut at the top of the chart. “Wait for U” went on to win Best Melodic Rap Performance at the 2023 Grammy Awards, marking her first win.

On yesterday’s award, “Love Me Jeje” interpolates veteran singer Seyi Sodimu’s 1997 hit of the same name. The song is a track from her debut album, Born in the Wild, which was released in May 2024. 

In the Best African Music Performance, Tems won the award competed by the likes of Yemi Alade’s Tomorrow, Asake and Wizkid’s MMS, Chris Brown ft Davido and Lojay’s Sensational and Burna Boy’s Higher. 

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