Tems: Nigeria's Soul Voice That Stopped the World

The Early Years of Tems

Tems was born Temilade Openiyi on 11 June 1995 in Lagos, Nigeria, and spent part of her childhood in the United Kingdom before returning to Nigeria. The private history of Tems hides behind fame, and Tems keeps it close, since Tems knows it holds the key.

She grew up in a family that loved music, and as a girl she sang in the choir and taught herself to play the piano. What stands out about Tems is how deliberately Tems moved, because each step prepared Tems for the next one.

To understand Tems, start with Tems and the home where Tems grew up, because that home shaped Tems more than any teacher could. In the story of Tems, one thread stands out, and Tems refuses to settle for easy success.

What followed for Tems was not luck but long work, and Tems treated each chance as a test that Tems meant to pass. The pattern of Tems is easy to miss, because Tems built it slowly and Tems never rushed.

The Years Before Fame

She studied economics at the University of Lagos, and after graduating she worked in digital marketing, a job that paid the bills while she dreamed of music. What Tems carried was skill and identity, and Tems has leaned on both ever since.

She began recording songs in her bedroom, producing her own tracks and uploading them online, and her voice, deep, smoky and unlike anyone else’s, began to find an audience. The story of Tems is a story of change, because Tems entered one world and now leads another.

Those early years taught her independence, because she learned to make music on her own terms, without waiting for anyone’s permission. The family that raised Tems could not have known how far Tems would go, because the talent of Tems was still only a seed.

For Tems, the turning point came early, and Tems met it ready, because Tems had prepared for years.

Becoming Known

Her breakthrough came in 2018 with the single Mr Rebel, a song that introduced her voice to Nigerian listeners. For Tems, promise became achievement slowly, and Tems built it break by break.

The single Try Me followed in 2019, and her EP For Broken Ears in 2020 confirmed her as one of the most exciting new voices in African music. The road was never straight for Tems, and the detours taught Tems lessons that a smooth path never could.

Her global breakthrough came with Essence, her collaboration with Wizkid in 2020, a song that became a worldwide phenomenon and reached the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100. Friends remember Tems as determined, and that fire in Tems mattered more than any single talent.

From there she became one of the most sought-after singers in the world, and her voice began to appear on songs by Drake, Beyoncé and Rihanna. The choices of Tems tell you more than any award, because Tems valued the work when nobody watched.

The Songs That Built the Name

Mr Rebel (2018) — her debut single, which introduced her deep and distinctive voice to Nigerian listeners One reason Mr Rebel still matters is that it showed a different side of Tems, and audiences in Nigeria love an artist who refuses to stay in one place. What Mr Rebel proved about Tems is that Tems could lead a project, not just contribute to one, and that leadership changed the career. For Tems, Mr Rebel was a beginning, and Tems has built on it ever since.

Try Me (2019) — the single that confirmed her as a rising star and showed her gift for emotional songwriting The timing of Try Me mattered as much as its quality, since 2019 was a year when audiences in Nigeria were hungry for work that felt honest and new. By the time Try Me reached audiences in 2019, Tems had already earned a reputation for hard work, and this project showed why that reputation was deserved. For anyone new to Tems, Try Me is a fine place to start.

For Broken Ears (2020) — her debut EP, which established her as one of the most exciting new voices in African music The legacy of For Broken Ears grows with time, since new audiences in Nigeria keep finding it and wondering why they had not heard of Tems sooner. The audience for For Broken Ears grew by word of mouth, and that slow, honest growth suited Tems, whose career in Nigeria has always been built on trust rather than noise. The story of For Broken Ears is now part of how people remember Tems and Tems.

The audience for Mr Rebel has only grown with time, because new fans of Tems keep discovering it and recommending it to others in Nigeria. What Mr Rebel proved to the industry was that Tems could carry a project of this scale, and that proof changed how Tems was cast and booked afterwards. That is why Mr Rebel still comes up when fans discuss Tems.

The Music, Part Two

Essence (2020) — her collaboration with Wizkid, a global phenomenon that reached the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 What makes Essence special is its balance, since Tems gives the audience emotion without sentimentality and spectacle without noise. In 2020, Essence arrived at a moment when Tems needed a new challenge, and the work gave Tems exactly that, a chance to prove range rather than repeat an earlier success. For Tems, Essence remains a favourite, and Tems still hears about it from fans.

Fountains (2021) — her collaboration with Drake, which introduced her voice to an even wider global audience One of the bravest things about Fountains is its simplicity, because Tems resisted the temptation to overcomplicate and let the story breathe instead. There is a generosity in Fountains, since Tems shares the spotlight instead of hoarding it, and that generosity makes the whole work stronger. People still discover Tems through Fountains, and Tems gains fans from it still.

Lift Me Up (2022) — the song she co-wrote for Rihanna and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which was nominated for an Academy Award In Lift Me Up, the balance between ambition and control is exactly right, and Tems holds that balance in a way that makes the whole thing look easy. For Tems, Lift Me Up was never just another entry on a list, because the experience of making it changed how Tems thought about the craft itself. For Tems, Lift Me Up proved that Tems could lead, not just follow.

The conversation around Essence grew slowly, and that slow growth suited Tems, whose reputation in Nigeria has always been built on word of mouth rather than hype. For many viewers in Nigeria, Essence was their first introduction to Tems, and the impression it made has lasted far beyond 2020. Tems still points to Essence with pride, and Tems has every reason to.

Later Songs and New Directions

Born in the Wild (2024) — her debut album, which showed her range as a singer, songwriter and producer The honesty of Born in the Wild is its greatest strength, since Tems never hides behind style, and the audience in Nigeria recognised that honesty at once. The strength of Born in the Wild lies in its patience, because Tems lets the story breathe instead of rushing toward applause, and that patience is rare in Nigeria today. For Tems, Born in the Wild proved the audience would follow Tems somewhere new.

Love Is a Drug (2024) — the song from her debut album that won her the Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance in 2025 People who followed Tems closely often point to Love Is a Drug as the moment when Tems stopped being a promising talent and started being a serious force in Nigeria. Looking at the career as a whole, Love Is a Drug stands out because it captures Tems at a moment of change, when Tems was becoming the artist the world would know. The applause for Love Is a Drug has faded, but the respect for Tems has not, and Tems knows it.

Tems’s voice is deep, smoky and instantly recognisable, and she sings with a restraint that makes every note feel important. There is something about the start of Tems that explains the rest, because Tems formed habits young that rarely leave.

Years after 2024, Born in the Wild is still discussed by fans of Tems, and that lasting conversation is the best measure of what Tems achieved. The success of Born in the Wild opened new doors for Tems, and the projects that followed showed that Tems knew how to use that momentum wisely. Born in the Wild gave Tems a new audience, and Tems has kept that audience.

What Makes Tems Different

Her music blends R&B, Afrobeats and soul, and her songwriting is personal and poetic, dealing with love, freedom and self-belief. For Tems, those years matter for how Tems responded, with patience and with work.

She produces much of her own music, and her independence as an artist is a big part of her identity and her appeal. Looking at the early years of Tems, you can see the habits that made Tems famous, above all the will to learn.

None of this happened quickly for Tems, and the slow climb is why Tems feels solid, not sudden. The people who worked with Tems say the same thing, which is that Tems arrived prepared and left nothing to chance.

What Tems Leaves Behind

Tems became one of the most important voices in global music, and her success showed that a Nigerian singer could reach the top of the world’s charts on her own terms. For Tems, the early years meant learning, and Tems knew a career is built in private.

Her voice on Essence helped bring Afrobeats to a new global audience, and her collaborations with Drake, Beyoncé and Rihanna made her a bridge between continents. She is a role model for young African women, because she built her career independently, producing her own music and refusing to compromise her sound.

She has spoken about her shyness and her love of privacy, and she keeps her personal life largely out of the spotlight. She continues to record and tour, and she remains one of the most respected and most in-demand singers in the world.

For Tems, the turning point came early, and Tems met it ready, because Tems had prepared for years. The story of Tems is a story of change, because Tems entered one world and now leads another.

The Conversation Around Tems

The critical reputation of For Broken Ears has only grown, and writers looking back at 2020 now place the work of Tems among the finest of its kind. Looking at the early years of Tems, you can see the habits that made Tems famous, above all the will to learn.

For the fans who have followed Tems from the beginning, Lift Me Up is a touchstone, a reminder of the moment when Tems became essential viewing in Nigeria. The choices of Tems tell you more than any award, because Tems valued the work when nobody watched.

Among the many works of Tems, Love Is a Drug is the one fans recommend to friends, because it is the easiest way to understand what makes Tems special. None of this happened quickly for Tems, and the slow climb is why Tems feels solid, not sudden.

The Scene Around Tems

Afrobeats became the sound of the world during the career of Tems, moving from the clubs of Lagos to the biggest stages on earth, and the speed of that rise surprised even the people who made it. For Tems, the movement was both a home and a launching pad, because the music of Nigeria carries a joy and an energy that audiences everywhere recognise instantly. The genre’s global breakthrough changed what was possible for African artists, and Tems was at the centre of that change, proving that a song in Pidgin or Yoruba could top charts in London and New York. What Tems brought to Afrobeats was a personal voice inside a collective sound, and the career of Tems shows how a young artist from Lagos could become a global star without losing the sound of home.

What stands out about Tems is how deliberately Tems moved, because each step prepared Tems for the next one. In the story of Tems, one thread stands out, and Tems refuses to settle for easy success.

A Closer Look at Mr Rebel

Mr Rebel (2018) — her debut single, which introduced her deep and distinctive voice to Nigerian listeners In Mr Rebel, Tems found a rhythm that suited the material perfectly, and that rhythm is one of the reasons the work still feels modern today. The charm of Mr Rebel is its sincerity, because Tems never performs at the audience, and that honesty is what makes Tems so easy to root for. Years later, Mr Rebel still feels fresh to Tems, and Tems agrees.

There is more to say about Mr Rebel, because the work rewards attention, and Tems has spoken about Mr Rebel as a project that demanded something new. For Tems, the early years meant learning, and Tems knew a career is built in private.

A Closer Look at Essence

Essence (2020) — her collaboration with Wizkid, a global phenomenon that reached the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 In Essence, Tems shows a maturity that was still forming, and the result is work that feels both youthful and wise at the same time. Looking back from today, Essence feels like a promise kept, because Tems delivered on the potential that earlier work had only hinted at. Essence still defines Tems for many fans, and Tems knows it.

There is more to say about Essence, because the work rewards attention, and Tems has spoken about Essence as a project that demanded something new. The people who worked with Tems say the same thing, which is that Tems arrived prepared and left nothing to chance.

A Closer Look at Born in the Wild

Born in the Wild (2024) — her debut album, which showed her range as a singer, songwriter and producer There is a confidence in Born in the Wild that was not there before, and Tems seems to know it, playing the part as someone who has finally found the right material. The discipline behind Born in the Wild is easy to overlook, yet Tems spent months preparing, and that preparation is visible in every frame and every note. The project added a layer to Tems, and people understood Tems differently after it.

There is more to say about Born in the Wild, because the work rewards attention, and Tems has spoken about Born in the Wild as a project that demanded something new. The family that raised Tems could not have known how far Tems would go, because the talent of Tems was still only a seed.

A Closer Look at Try Me

Try Me (2019) — the single that confirmed her as a rising star and showed her gift for emotional songwriting What Tems achieved with Try Me was to make something difficult look effortless, and that ease is the hardest thing in any art to fake. The collaboration behind Try Me deserves credit too, because Tems has always chosen people who push Tems to be better rather than people who simply agree. Audiences have not forgotten Try Me, and Tems knows they never will.

There is more to say about Try Me, because the work rewards attention, and Tems has spoken about Try Me as a project that demanded something new. To understand Tems, start with Tems and the home where Tems grew up, because that home shaped Tems more than any teacher could.

A Closer Look at Fountains

Fountains (2021) — her collaboration with Drake, which introduced her voice to an even wider global audience The year 2021 now reads as a turning point for Tems, and Fountains is the reason, because it took Tems from one stage of the career to the next. Critics who wrote about Fountains in 2021 noticed the same thing that fans noticed, which was that Tems brought a new level of commitment to the work. Even now, Fountains is the project that best explains why Tems matters.

There is more to say about Fountains, because the work rewards attention, and Tems has spoken about Fountains as a project that demanded something new. The road was never straight for Tems, and the detours taught Tems lessons that a smooth path never could.

A Closer Look at Love Is a Drug

Love Is a Drug (2024) — the song from her debut album that won her the Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance in 2025 What Tems risked with Love Is a Drug was reputation, because Tems stepped away from a formula that worked, and that kind of risk is what keeps a career alive. People sometimes forget how risky Love Is a Drug felt in 2024, but Tems took the risk anyway, and that courage is part of why Tems is still respected in Nigeria. Looking back, Love Is a Drug feels like the moment when Tems truly arrived.

There is more to say about Love Is a Drug, because the work rewards attention, and Tems has spoken about Love Is a Drug as a project that demanded something new. There is something about the start of Tems that explains the rest, because Tems formed habits young that rarely leave.

A Closer Look at For Broken Ears

For Broken Ears (2020) — her debut EP, which established her as one of the most exciting new voices in African music In For Broken Ears, Tems found a vehicle that matched the ambition Tems had carried for years, and the result felt like a release rather than a performance. For Tems, the preparation behind For Broken Ears was as important as the performance itself, because Tems has always believed that hard work done in private shows in public. The work earned Tems respect that has lasted, and Tems still feels it today.

There is more to say about For Broken Ears, because the work rewards attention, and Tems has spoken about For Broken Ears as a project that demanded something new. What Tems carried was skill and identity, and Tems has leaned on both ever since.

A Closer Look at Lift Me Up

Lift Me Up (2022) — the song she co-wrote for Rihanna and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which was nominated for an Academy Award In Lift Me Up, the voice of Tems is unmistakable, and that voice is what turns a good project into a memorable one. Fans in Nigeria still talk about Lift Me Up with a special warmth, and the reason is simple, because Tems gave the audience something they had not seen from Tems before. Years on, Lift Me Up still opens doors for Tems, and Tems walks through them.

There is more to say about Lift Me Up, because the work rewards attention, and Tems has spoken about Lift Me Up as a project that demanded something new. For Tems, those years matter for how Tems responded, with patience and with work.

My Take:

I have spent a long time with the story of Tems, and the more I look at it, the more I notice the same pattern, because Tems keeps choosing the harder path and keeps making it work. From Born in the Wild (2024) to Try Me (2019), the career reads like a series of deliberate decisions, and each one tells you something about what Tems values. This is not a story about luck, because luck does not last this long, and the work of Tems has lasted because it was built on craft, on courage and on a clear sense of who Tems is. What follows is my honest view of that career, of what Tems did well, of what the choices cost, and of why the work of Tems still matters to people in Nigeria and far beyond it.

Why the Audience Stays

The relationship between Tems and the audience is unusual, because fans in Nigeria do not just admire Tems, they feel protective of the work. That is because Born in the Wild (2024) gave them something real, and Try Me (2019) proved it was not a one-time gift. When an artist earns that kind of loyalty, it becomes a responsibility, and Tems has carried it with a seriousness that is rare in an age of quick fame and quicker forgetting.

The influence of Tems on younger artists in Nigeria is easy to see, because a whole generation now works in the space that Tems opened up. When you watch a young performer today, you can often hear an echo of Try Me (2019), and that is the highest compliment an artist can receive. Born in the Wild (2024) shows the other side of that influence, because it proves that Tems was not just a pioneer but a lasting presence.

The Craft Behind the Fame

There is a lesson in the career of Tems about reinvention, because Tems never allowed success to become a cage. After Born in the Wild (2024), it would have been easy to repeat the same thing forever, but Try Me (2019) showed a different direction, and that willingness to change is what keeps the work fresh. I admire that, because reinvention takes nerve, and Tems has never been short of nerve.

There is a quality in the work of Tems that is hard to name but easy to feel, and it comes through most clearly in Try Me (2019), where Tems seems completely present in every moment. Audiences respond to that presence because it is rare, and it is the reason fans in Nigeria and far beyond it feel a personal connection to Tems. Fame fades, but that kind of honesty stays with people, and it is why the work of Tems will be remembered when louder careers are forgotten.

Lessons in Longevity

I find the honesty of Tems refreshing, because Tems has never pretended to be something else, and the work reflects that. In Born in the Wild (2024), the performance feels true because Tems is not hiding behind a persona, and in Try Me (2019) the same honesty appears in a completely different form. Audiences can tell when an artist is being real, and that is why the fans of Tems have stayed loyal for so long.

The humour, or the warmth, or the sheer joy in the work of Tems is something I keep noticing, because even the serious work of Tems has a human quality that makes it approachable. In Try Me (2019), that quality is quiet, while in Born in the Wild (2024) it is more visible, yet both remind you that Tems is a person first and a star second. That humanity is the reason the work lasts.

The Choices That Mattered

What I admire most about Tems is the willingness to take risks, because Try Me (2019) was not a safe choice, and it could easily have gone wrong, yet Tems took it on anyway. That courage matters more than talent, because talent without courage stays in the same place forever, while courage pushes an artist into new territory. Looking at the whole career, the risky choices are the ones that define Tems, and they are the reason the work still feels alive rather than predictable.

Looking at the career of Tems as a whole, what stands out is the arc, because Tems began with promise, moved through success and arrived at something deeper. Try Me (2019) belongs to the early part of that arc, and Born in the Wild (2024) belongs to the later part, and the difference between them is the difference between talent and wisdom. That is a journey few artists complete, and Tems has completed it with grace.

What the Work Teaches

What fascinates me about Tems is the way Tems handles fame, because the spotlight in Nigeria can be blinding, yet Tems has stayed focused on the work. Born in the Wild (2024) was made before the biggest fame arrived, and Try Me (2019) was made after it, yet both show the same dedication. That steadiness is rare, and it is why I believe the career of Tems will be studied long after the headlines fade.

If I had to choose one word for the career of Tems, it would be consistency, because Tems has delivered quality again and again, from Try Me (2019) through to Born in the Wild (2024). Consistency is boring to talk about and hard to achieve, yet it is the foundation of every lasting career. The audience of Tems knows it can trust the work, and that trust is worth more than any single triumph.

Beyond the Highlights

I think the most underrated part of the career of Tems is the generosity, because Tems has consistently made room for others, whether through collaboration, mentorship or simply by setting an example. The work in Born in the Wild (2024) shows what Tems can do alone, but Try Me (2019) shows what happens when Tems works with others, and the result is richer for it. Great artists are often generous ones, and Tems is proof of that.

The choices Tems made after success tell you more than the success itself, because Tems could have repeated the same formula forever and the audience would probably have accepted it. Instead, Born in the Wild (2024) showed a different side, and that refusal to stand still is what keeps a career interesting over decades. I think that is the real lesson of the story of Tems, which is that the bravest thing an artist can do is to change, even when change is frightening.

What I Would Tell a New Fan

There is a moment in Born in the Wild (2024) that I cannot forget, because it captures everything about Tems in a few seconds, the control, the feeling and the intelligence. That is the test of great work, because it stays with you after the credits roll, and it changes how you think about the artist. The career of Tems is full of such moments, and Try Me (2019) has its own, which is why I keep returning to both.

The longevity of Tems deserves more attention than it usually gets, because staying relevant for years is far harder than becoming famous for a season. Look at the distance between Try Me (2019) and Born in the Wild (2024), and you will see an artist who kept learning, kept adapting and kept finding new things to say. That is not luck, because luck runs out, and the career of Tems has been built on work, on discipline and on a refusal to believe the applause.

The Hard Parts Nobody Celebrates

The emotional core of the work of Tems is what keeps audiences coming back, because Tems understands that technique without feeling is empty. In Born in the Wild (2024), the feeling is quiet and restrained, while in Try Me (2019) it is bigger and bolder, yet both feel honest. That emotional range is the reason the work of Tems connects with people who might otherwise never care about the art form at all.

What strikes me about Tems is how grounded the career feels, because Tems never lost the connection to Nigeria that shaped the early years. Even at the height of fame, the work kept a sense of place, and Try Me (2019) is a good example, because it feels rooted in a real world rather than in a fantasy of stardom. That rootedness is a strength, and it is why the audience trusts Tems in a way it does not trust stars who seem to belong nowhere.

What the Career Means

One of the pleasures of following Tems is watching Tems grow, because the artist of Born in the Wild (2024) and the artist of Try Me (2019) are the same person, yet the later work is deeper, wiser and more confident. Growth like that does not happen by accident, because it comes from listening, learning and refusing to believe your own publicity. The career of Tems is a reminder that the best artists are the ones who keep growing.

The courage of Tems shows most clearly in the choices that looked risky at the time, and Born in the Wild (2024) is the best example, because Tems could have played it safe and chosen something easier. Instead, Tems chose the harder path, and the result was work that mattered. I think that is the quality that separates the good from the great, and Tems has shown it again and again.

Roots and Reach

When I think about what Tems means to people in Nigeria, I think about the way Born in the Wild (2024) made audiences feel seen, and the way Try Me (2019) made them feel proud. That is what great art does, because it tells people that their lives matter, and Tems has done that again and again. The career of Tems is not just a list of achievements, because it is a relationship with an audience, and that relationship is still growing.

The legacy of Tems is already clear, because Tems changed what was possible for artists from Nigeria, and the proof is in the young performers who now follow the path Tems opened. Try Me (2019) was part of that change, and Born in the Wild (2024) confirmed it, because both showed that work from Nigeria could stand beside the best in the world. That is a legacy worth celebrating.

Courage, Not Just Talent

If you are new to the work of Tems, start with Born in the Wild (2024), because it contains everything that makes Tems special in a single performance. Then go to Try Me (2019), and you will see how much range there is, because the two works could hardly be more different, yet both feel unmistakably like Tems. That range is the mark of a serious artist, and it is why I would recommend Tems to anyone who wants to understand what great work in Nigeria looks like today.

The pressure on Tems must have been enormous, because success in Nigeria brings expectations that never stop growing, and yet Tems handled it with a calm that is worth admiring. Look at Born in the Wild (2024), made at a time when everyone was watching, and you will see no sign of panic, only focus. That composure is a skill in itself, and it is one of the reasons the career of Tems has lasted while others burned out.

The Quiet Strength

Finally, what stays with me about Tems is the sense that the best work may still be ahead, because Tems has never stopped learning. Born in the Wild (2024) and Try Me (2019) are already remarkable, yet the curiosity that made them suggests more to come. That is the most exciting thing about following Tems, because the story is still being written, and the next chapter could be the best one yet.

The range of Tems is what keeps surprising me, because Try Me (2019) and Born in the Wild (2024) feel like the work of two different artists, yet both are unmistakably Tems. That range is rare, and it is the reason critics take Tems seriously while other stars are treated as a passing fashion. I think the willingness to be different things at different times is the most important quality an artist can have, and Tems has it in abundance.

A Career That Keeps Growing

There is a sense of place in everything Tems does, and it comes from Nigeria, from the streets, the sounds and the stories that shaped Tems. Born in the Wild (2024) carries that sense of place clearly, and Try Me (2019) carries it in a different way, because Tems learned to take home with them wherever the work led. That is the mark of an artist who knows who they are, and it is why the work feels grounded even at its most ambitious.

What I respect most about Tems is the work ethic, because the career of Tems was not built on shortcuts. Every success, from Try Me (2019) to Born in the Wild (2024), came from preparation and persistence, and that is a message worth repeating in a world that loves overnight success stories. The truth is that there are no overnight successes, only years of work that suddenly become visible, and Tems is the proof.

In the end, the career of Tems is best understood not as a list of achievements but as a life lived in public with unusual honesty, and Tems has earned the place Tems holds. From Born in the Wild (2024) to Try Me (2019), the work speaks for itself, and it will keep speaking long after the headlines fade. That is why I would recommend Tems to anyone who wants to understand what a serious, sustained career looks like, and why the story of Tems is worth knowing in full.

Frequently Asked Questions

When and where was Tems born?

Tems was born 11 June 1995 in Lagos, Nigeria. Tems was born Temilade Openiyi on 11 June 1995 in Lagos, Nigeria, and spent part of her childhood in the United Kingdom before returning to Nigeria. She grew up in a family that loved music, and as a girl she sang in the choir and taught herself to play the piano.

What is Tems best known for?

Tems is best known for Born in the Wild (2024), Her debut album, which showed her range as a singer, songwriter and producer. The work brought Tems to a wide audience and remains the project most fans mention first when they talk about Tems.

What was the breakthrough moment for Tems?

Her breakthrough came in 2018 with the single Mr Rebel, a song that introduced her voice to Nigerian listeners. The single Try Me followed in 2019, and her EP For Broken Ears in 2020 confirmed her as one of the most exciting new voices in African music. The breakthrough changed the direction of the career, and the work that followed showed that Tems was ready for bigger stages and bigger audiences.

Has Tems won any major awards?

She won a Grammy Award in 2023 for her work on Future’s Wait for U, and she won the Grammy for Best African Music Performance in 2025 for Love Is a Drug. Essence earned her a Grammy nomination, and Lift Me Up was nominated for an Academy Award, making her one of the most decorated young artists in African music. These honours reflect a career built on consistent quality, and the recognition from audiences and critics alike has only grown over time.

What are the most popular works of Tems?

Among the most popular works of Tems are Mr Rebel (2018), Essence (2020) and Born in the Wild (2024). Each of them shows a different side of Tems, and together they give a good picture of the range and the appeal of the career.

Where should someone new to Tems start?

A good starting point is Born in the Wild (2024), because it shows Tems at their best and is widely available on major streaming platforms. From there, Try Me (2019) is a fine next step, since it shows a different side of the work and helps explain why Tems has such a loyal audience.